Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Sammy McDowell, who was a community leader, restaurateur, and friend to all.

Sammy grew up in Minneapolis and was a fixture in the community throughout his life. He worked in food service for many years before starting his own catering service and restaurant. His flagship restaurant, Sammy's Avenue Eatery opened in 2012 on West Broadway Avenue in North Minneapolis. Not only has Sammy's served delicious food for over a decade, it has also become an important gathering place for the community. He had recently expanded and began operating a Sammy's Avenue Eatery pop-up in Saint Paul, in a space which features Black- owned businesses. Even as a business owner, Sammy never compromised his generosity towards others and always went the extra mile to check on the wellbeing of his friends, as well as his customers. Sammy's passion for his community was contagious, and I know that the spaces he created will continue to be sources of friendship, inspiration, and comfort.

Sammy was also a well known devoted member of Shiloh Temple and sang in the choir there for many years. He was worshiping among loved ones at Shiloh just before his death. He had a hand in many things throughout the community, and was always a familiar face at events around the city. This past week, a balloon release was held in several U.S. cities to celebrate Sammy's life. These nationwide celebrations are a testament to Sammy's admirable ability to make an impression on those around him. His company will be dearly missed by those who had the privilege to know him.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the incredibly full life of Sammy McDowell and recognizing his accomplishments in entrepreneurship and community-building, and his immeasurable impact on the people and city of Minneapolis.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to join my colleagues to honor the life and legacy of the late Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.

Donald was one of the first people to say hello to me. I recognized his name as soon as he introduced himself. I had met his father as a young girl in a refugee camp in Kenya. We talked a lot about his father's love and wishing the best for those of us who were born on the Continent and how much he desired to carry on some of that work.

I got to see him almost every single day getting ready to do his 1 minute and I would get an opportunity to check in with him. He not only showed up for every 1 minute every time it was scheduled, but he showed up and fought for his beloved community every day he was in office.

His dedication to following his father's legacy by serving others, his deep human decency, his commitment to the people of New Jersey will have a lasting impact for generations to come.

I will miss our chitchats. I will miss seeing his beautiful smile, and I will miss knowing that he was here to cheer me up.

I am sending love and light to his family, to his staff, and to all the people who loved him. May he rest in power.

Mr. Speaker, ``Mashallah,'' ``God has willed it,'' to Representative Jamal Bowman for that incredible speech and for giving a shout-out to my Homes for All Act.

I thank Representative Ramirez for yielding and for bringing all of us together to be able to advocate for housing.

Mr. Speaker, in the richest nation on Earth, it is a moral failure that we have a housing crisis, but moral victories are not won by words but by urgent actions and bold policies. Fortunately, our localities are stepping up with sensible housing reforms and creative development models.

In Minneapolis, our Public Housing Authority just unveiled its largest development in decades. The Minneapolis Public Housing Authority created 84 new units that are deeply affordable family housing across Minneapolis, using an innovative modular construction approach that cut development time by 30 percent.

In Montgomery County, local leaders created their own version of an affordable housing development by setting up a revolving loan fund to develop dense, mixed-income, municipally owned housing. Now, their public developer model is being replicated in other communities across the country.

These local initiatives are vital to strengthening housing affordability, but they need more support. The solution to our housing shortage cannot be piecemeal. It demands a combination of local innovation and bold Federal leadership.

Congress cannot sit on the sidelines. We have the responsibility and capacity to solve this crisis. We can start by authorizing significant Federal funding and public financing options for true public and social housing.

That is why I will be reintroducing the Homes for All Act, to transform what housing could look like in the United States, rooted in the right reforms and priorities. It repeals the Faircloth amendment allowing public housing authorities to build more housing on a massive scale, like we once did in times of great need.

To ensure Federal disinvestment and neglect does not happen again, the bill

also converts public housing operating and capital expenses into mandatory spending.

It makes historic investments in our housing stock, building 8.5 million new public housing units and 3.5 million new private housing units for working-class families.

Finally, my bill would establish a fund to help localities develop pro-housing programs that can also prevent residential segregation and displacement.

Congress needs to play a more active and direct role in strengthening our housing supply. This includes making sure that public and private dollars for affordable housing are used effectively and equitably by supporting local zoning reform and robust tenant protections. Such policies can work together, if crafted carefully.

Last Congress, Senator Merkley and I introduced the Affordable HOME Act to provide that comprehensive approach to ensuring housing construction and acquisition efforts are fair, inclusive, and sustainable. For renters and first-time home buyers, this legislation provides robust funding for direct rental assistance and downpayment assistance. This bill also establishes programs for a national right of first refusal and right to counsel and bans source-of-income discrimination and no-cause evictions.

For people experiencing homelessness, the bill provides billions of dollars in funding for permanent supportive housing, not only covering capital costs but also expanding rental subsidies and wraparound services.

For communities, the bill invests in innovative housing models, such as resident-owned cooperatives and community land trusts.

My bills are only a couple of examples that could help guarantee housing as a human right.

I am proud to share this floor with my dedicated colleagues who have championed housing policies that are centered on the needs of our communities and advocates.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to shout-out Representative Esther Agbaje, Representative Aisha Gomez, Representative Mike Howard, and Representative Hodan Hassan, who are leading the charge in the State of Minnesota to make sure housing is available for all. Everyone deserves access to a safe and stable place to live.

I thank Representative Ramirez for her great partnership in this important fight.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Edina High School Boys' Hockey Team, who won the Class AA state championship in the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament.

This year's win marks Edina's 14th state championship overall, and second championship in five years. The team, led by head coach Curt Giles, finished the regular season with an impressive record of 20 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. In the postseason, the team earned another five wins in order to secure their spot in the championship game against Chanhassen High School. The championship game was incredibly competitive, and especially meaningful for Edina--who fell just short of the title in 2023. Chanhassen took the lead with a goal at the end of the second period and held it until Edina defenseman Robbie Hoch scored a goal to tie the game in the third period. A few minutes later, Edina senior Bobby Cowan scored the winning goal on a power play. Cowan's goal clinched the championship for the team, who won the game 2-1, in front of more than 20,000 spectators. The win would not have been possible without the phenomenal efforts of goalie Joey Betram, who had more than 30 saves.

I am so impressed with the hard work that these students put in on the road to the state championship game, and I am especially proud to see them take home the title for their school. While some members of the team will continue playing for Edina next year, I know that others are graduating and stepping into life after high school. Whether those graduates choose to continue playing hockey or not, I have no doubt that the lessons they learned on this team will be immensely helpful in their lives ahead.

I'd also like to recognize all of the parents, teachers, school support staff, and team staff who worked to help this team succeed in every game that they played on their way to the championship. This level of success does not come without support, and we are lucky to have a community that is so invested in helping young people achieve in their endeavors outside of school.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Edina High School Boys' Hockey Team on their state championship title and recognizing all of the hard work that it took to get there.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 766. The Dr. Michael C. Burgess Preventive Health Savings Act provides Congress with more information on the budgetary impact of preventive healthcare services.

Investing in prevention, such as early detection screenings, could improve healthcare outcomes while lowering healthcare costs in the long run.

Such lifesaving, evidence-based policies often have significant fiscal benefits for the government. The bill also ensures that the requests for this outyear estimate are bipartisan.

Both the chair and the ranking member of the Budget Committee and the primary committees of jurisdiction must all together request this information.

This request should be about our continued focus on wellness and disease prevention for the American people and not be used to justify any partisan policies.

Finally, the bill ensures that the out-year impact of prevention healthcare policies are only used as a supplemental estimate. It cannot be used for any budgetary enforcement controls. This would simply help Congress make more informed policy decisions and prevent out-year estimates to be used for any budget gimmicks.

I fully support this sensible piece of legislation, bringing us closer to more transparent and holistic budget reporting.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette), the coauthor of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, preventive healthcare services can save lives and lower costs for families. It is time for Congress to evaluate and prioritize such innovative policies that have the potential to improve our healthcare system.

I appreciate the hard work of Representative Burgess and congratulate him on his retirement and Representative DeGette in championing this important effort 11 years in the making. I was proud to vote for this bill in committee, and I urge my colleagues to support it today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the community projects we funded last week. We showed the country we can work together in a bipartisan way to fund projects that have an impact in our communities.

In my district, we secured $12 million for 15 community-centered projects across our district. In total, our office has now delivered over $50 million to projects in every corner of the Fifth District. This funding will address the affordable housing crisis, climate resilience, food access, workforce development, and healthcare investment.

I am grateful to the countless community members throughout Minnesota's Fifth who brought their hopes and dreams to our office with these project proposals. Since President Biden signed the package, we are one step closer to making those dreams a reality.

I will always fight to ensure our communities have a seat at the table where funding decisions are made.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my profound frustration at the continued Trump-era policies toward Cuba. For 65 long years, the Cuban people have suffered under the weight of an American embargo.

Now, Cuba's completely unwarranted designation as a state sponsor of terror is causing new waves of hardship for the people of the island.

It is also impacting our allies and friends. Mr. Speaker, I met with many ambassadors from close partners of the United States when I was in Cuba, and they were unanimously opposed to the state sponsor designation.

Trump and Pompeo created this designation, knowing it has no merit, and it was a political trap for the Biden administration.

Mr. Speaker, I call on President Biden to step out of that trap, finally, and stop this cruel and counterproductive policy. He should remove the state sponsor designation today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Brigadier General Dan Gabrielli, who retires after 35 years with the Minnesota National Guard and the United States Air Force.

Under his leadership, the Minnesota Guard addressed complex challenges, including overseeing 59,000 COVID vaccines and massive domestic airlifts during Operation Capitol Response in 2021.

I first met General Gabrielli as the 133rd Airlift Wing commander, where his impact on shaping airmen to serve with dignity was unmistakable. His leadership led to frequent and high recognition for the 133rd.

In 2022, I witnessed his exemplary command at Task Force Holloman during Operation Allies Welcome, successfully resettling over 7,000 Afghans.

His commitment extends beyond his official office as he continues to advocate for Afghan refuges in his personal capacity.

Mr. Speaker, Brigadier General Gabrielli epitomizes selfless service and excellence. It is my greatest privilege to honor and thank Brigadier General Dan Gabrielli for his distinguished career and celebrate his well-deserved retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Pregnant Students' Rights Act, which fails to expand meaningful support and accommodations for students.

As a pregnant and parent college student, I have personal experience when it comes to this topic. When I was 19 and in college, I became pregnant with my first daughter and, shortly after, my son.

I know the challenges of navigating the education system while balancing motherhood responsibilities. I know how isolating it can be. I know how critical it is for students to have comprehensive information about their choices, options, resources, and accommodations.

That is why, when I was in the Minnesota State Legislature, I introduced and passed a bill that not only required institutions to provide pregnant and parent students information about their rights and resources for prenatal and postnatal care but also created a grant program to fund activities that support enrollment, retention, academic success, and graduation.

H.R. 6914 is a do-nothing, empty messaging bill that masquerades to support pregnant and parent students but neglects their actual needs.

Based on my own experience as a young mom in college and the available data, I know that pregnant and parent students need strong Title IX protections; access to affordable childcare, early education, and pre-K services; expansion of student-parent programs, child- friendly study rooms, and lactation accommodations; assistance with basic needs, such as food, housing, transportation, and supplies to ensure that these students and their families have the support they need to thrive.

That is why I plan on introducing a bill that not only requires institutions to provide pregnant and parent students with comprehensive information on all the options and resources available to them but also increases the resources and accommodations that are necessary for student success. I hope that my friends on the other side of the aisle will help support that bill and reject the current bill that we are voting on.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Minneapolis's longest serving City Council Member, Lisa Goodman. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Goodman has been dedicated to improving the lives of those who call Ward 7 home--her constituents in the Bryn Mawr, Cedar-Isles-Dean, East Isles, Elliot Park, Kenwood, Loring Park, Lowry Hill, and Steven's Square-Loring Heights neighborhoods, as well as parts of downtown.

Prior to being elected to the City Council in 1997, Ms. Goodman was the Executive Director of Minnesota NARAL where she was a champion of reproductive freedom and women's rights. Since taking office, she has invested in our community by supporting her constituents through driving development and fighting for her strongly held beliefs.

Of her seven terms in office, one of Council Member Goodman's lasting legacies will be her commitment to growing the arts and entertainment district along Minneapolis's Hennepin Avenue. She was instrumental in supporting the stabilization of the Orpheum Theater, the State and Pantages Theaters, and the Cowles Center for Dance & Performing Arts. She also helped move forward the design and construction of the Downtown Library and promoted sidewalk cafes and food trucks.

During Ms. Goodman's 25 years on the City Council, the residential population of downtown more than doubled and she has played an important role in the development of an affordable housing trust fund, which has invested more than $250 million in the community and has garnered over $1 billion in public financing.

To address access to food for downtown residents, Ms. Goodman helped bring two Lunds & Byerly's grocery stores to her Ward and more recently Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. She was also an early champion for improved environmental sustainability, advocating for the addition of green roofs at Target Center and City Hall.

In her career spanning four decades, Ms. Goodman prioritized building long-lasting relationships with policymakers of the Minnesota Legislature and her constituents through monthly ``Lunch with Lisa'' events, neighborhood meetings, ice cream socials, and community gatherings. The strength of her convictions has served her well over the years. She has been a strong advocate for her community and we are grateful for her years of public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Minneapolis City Council Member Andrew Johnson for his hard work and dedication to public service over the past decade. Over the years, Mr. Johnson has been applauded for his community engagement and commitment to small businesses and affordable housing. I had the pleasure of working for Mr. Johnson from 2013 to 2015 as his campaign manager and then Senior Policy Aide.

Council Member Johnson was first elected to office in 2013 and, at the time, was the youngest member on the Council. For three terms, he has proudly served the constituents of Ward 12, which includes the neighborhoods of Cooper, Ericsson, Hiawatha, Howe, Keewaydin, Minnehaha, Morris Park, and Standish, in the southeastern corner of Minneapolis. During his tenure, Mr. Johnson served as the chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee, Intergovernmental Relations Committee, and the Information Technology Subcommittee.

Over the past ten years, Council Member Johnson has participated in nearly 400 community meetings with his constituents. As a devoted advocate for housing, he worked on the creation of hundreds of housing units within Ward 12. Mr. Johnson also led the City in creating its first new public-housing project in more than a decade. He has been a champion for transit throughout his tenure, working on ordinances to ensure that sidewalks were clear of ice for residents, pushing for funding for street repairs, and advocating for more lanes and safety precautions for bikers. He worked to ensure that all constituents, whether they walked, biked, drove, or used public transit had access to safe transportation.

Council Member Johnson has had an impressive track record of serving his community. Key accomplishments that I want to recognize include the creation of the Small Business Office and Business Portal to serve local small business owners. He also authored the ordinance that allowed gender-neutral single-stall restrooms, led the efforts to rewrite the Animal Care and Control Ordinances to improve the quality of life for animals in shelters and was a co-founding member of the Transgender Equity Council. Last, but certainly not least, Mr. Johnson was also the lead sponsor of an ordinance that granted paid sick leave to over 100,000 constituents.

No problem has ever been too big or too small for City Council Member Johnson. Although his time as a city council member is coming to an end, the legacy of his work for our community and the City of Minneapolis will never be forgotten. He will truly be missed at City Hall and by his constituents.

Mr. Speaker, it is understandable why the author of this censure doesn't know what is up and what is down because obviously someone who wants to talk about crime supports a former President currently running for President that is facing 91 Federal and State indictments.

It is clear she doesn't know what is up or down because we sit on the Education and the Workforce Committee together talking about how she wants to help our kids, but all she wants to do is criminalize their ability to exist as individuals.

It makes sense that she doesn't know what is up or down because she keeps talking about accountability, and she doesn't understand that criminal charges are accountability. Pleading guilty is taking accountability. That is what the gentleman has done.

The only reason we are here is because she wants more time on camera. It is to make sure there is an ability to send a fundraiser asking for money.

This censure is not necessary because this gentleman has already been held accountable.

Mr. Speaker, it is glaring hypocrisy when you have Republicans on the other side of the aisle trying to create definitions and say Rashida wants to annihilate people when Max Miller himself went on TV and said we are turning Gaza into a parking lot and we want to annihilate Palestinians. Nobody condemned him on that side of the aisle.

What is true here is that every single one of them has not acknowledged the fact that Palestinians are dying in the tens of thousands but will continue to say it is us who are not acknowledging humanity.

Rashida will stand strong, and the Palestinian movement will continue for liberation until every single Palestinian has the right to live in liberty.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the exceptional achievement of Dance City, a local dance team based in north Minneapolis, for their remarkable victory at Starpower National Talent Competition.

The dedication, talent, and hard work demonstrated by the members of Dance City have propelled them to extraordinary success on the national stage, winning them first place in hip-hop, and first overall.

Faced with competition from over 100 teams around the country, the Dance City girls rallied to the challenge and emerged with their well- deserved victory.

The director and coach of Dance City, Cierra Burnaugh, created her studio to serve young Black girls in the Minneapolis community. May their success continue to illuminate the path for future generations of dancers. I could not be happier to have Minneapolis represented by these bright young women.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the exceptional achievement of the Dance City, a local dance team based in North Minneapolis, for their remarkable victory at Starpower National Talent Competition. The dedication, talent, and hard work demonstrated by the members of Dance City have propelled them to extraordinary success on the national stage, winning first place in Hip Hop and first overall. Faced with competition from 100 teams around the country, the Dance City girls rallied to the challenge and emerged with their well-earned victory.

Director of Dance City and Coach, Cierra Burnaugh, created her studio to serve young black girls in the Minneapolis community. Her dedication to her students and drive to provide a creative outlet for these young dancers is admirable. The community support that helped the team compete, exhibits the mutual understanding of how important it is to invest in younger generations. Young people like these talented dancers are our future, and they are learning invaluable skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

Their triumph is a testament to the power of determination, perseverance, and teamwork. This success is a shining example of what can be accomplished when people are empowered to pursue their dreams and strive for excellence. It is a testament to the dedication, passion, and teamwork of everyone involved, and I do not doubt that it will inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

I want to express my sincere congratulations to every member of Dance City, their families, their exceptional instructors, and everyone who has contributed to their growth and development. Their recent achievement not only fills North Minneapolis and the 5th Congressional District with pride but also highlights the thriving arts and cultural landscape in our community. May their success continue to illuminate the path for future generations of dancers, inspiring them to embrace their talents and strive for greatness. I could not be happier to have Minneapolis represented by these bright young women.