Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is wildfire season in Oregon, and the Trump administration is making it harder for fire crews to do their jobs. I met with them, some of whom voted for the President. They told me that the funding cuts are a problem, and they don't have the resources they need.

Now this administration is pulling people off the front lines of wildfires to conduct immigration enforcement? Give me a break.

Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago, the Labor Day fires killed nine people and destroyed thousands of homes in Oregon. Central Oregon is currently fighting the Flat fire. Thanks to the hard work of our fire crews, it is now at 52 percent containment.

Mr. Speaker, now is not the time to make life harder on our firefighters. This administration needs to stop the foolishness. I don't mess around with the safety of my constituents and neither should the President.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the impressive efforts of Clackamas Community College President Tim Cook, who ran more than 1,400 miles over 52 days to raise money and awareness for Oregon students. His journey, which started on the Oregon-Idaho border, visited each of the state's 17 community colleges. Averaging roughly a marathon a day. Tim worked to bring attention to the many challenges students face, including food insecurity, homelessness, and lack of childcare.

I am truly impressed by Tim's work, dedication, and drive. I could not be prouder to represent the school he leads. I look forward to continuing to fight for strong education policies together. Way to go.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recent marriage of Divjot Waraich and Amanjot Sidhu. Divjot, the son of Sarabjeet and Ravinder, and Amanjot, the

daughter of Inderjit and Rupinder, cemented their bond on August 1, 2025. I rise to wish them both a lifetime of love, joy, and success together. I am so excited to see what the future brings the two of them. I congratulate Divjot and Amanjot.

Mr. Speaker, I only have 1 minute today, but I wish I had 6 or 7 minutes.

Wildfire season is upon us. Over the weekend, we saw the Cram fire in central Oregon grow to more than 95,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire of the year so far in the United States.

I am grateful for the firefighters and local authorities who bravely responded and who are continuing to fight the flames. Thanks to them, the fire is now over 70 percent contained.

Mr. Speaker, while Oregon firefighters are out, saving lives and

homes, President Trump is freezing the funding they rely on. That is unacceptable.

Whether it is for pushing out evacuation alerts or maintaining shelters, this funding is key to keeping our neighbors safe and prepared. That is why I can't stop, and I won't stop fighting to ensure our communities have the resources they need.

I ask my constituents to please continue to follow the direction of local authorities. Have an evacuation plan. Prepare a go bag.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding efforts made by one of my own constituents, Ms. Abby Lachman. Ms. Lachman, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 6, recently visited Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of herself and the millions of Americans living with Type 1. I am impressed by her dedication to advocating for herself and her peers at such a young age and I am eager to see the changes she will make in the future. I am proud to represent you here in Congress Abby. I include in the Record the following article written by Noemi Arellano-Summer in the Bend Bulletin highlighting Abby's work.

A Bend teenager who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at

age 6 is going to Washington, D.C. to advocate for medical

research and affordable insulin. Abby Lachman is traveling to

D.C. Monday through 10 with Breakthrough T1D, an organization

that supports those with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is

a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body's immune

system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas,

so people with the disease must take insulin by injection or

insulin pump to survive Abby, 15, will be a sophomore at

Summit High in the fall. One of Abby's mentors with

Breakthrough T1D encouraged her to apply to be part of the

Children's Congress, an initiative the organization runs that

sends more than 160 kids with Type 1 diabetes to the capitol

every two years to advocate for research. She will be

speaking with a senator and representatives to share her

story.

``A lot of it, I think, is just to put a face to the number

or the story,'' she said. ``Because we want to help increase

funding or continue it, especially at a time when a lot of

medical research is getting cut. . . I'm looking forward to

all of it. Sometimes it feels surreal just thinking about it.

This is such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I feel so

blessed that I get to go and do this.'' Abby's been part of

Zoom meetings with the team to talk through ideas for the

trip and has put together a scrapbook of her journey with

Type 1 diabetes, she said. She's had to manage her disease

constantly for nearly a decade. ``For me, since I've had it

for so long, it's pretty much my life, so I'm a lot more used

to it. I have two devices, which are really helpful,'' she

said. ``It's pretty much just constant regulation. It's like,

where's my number at? Do I need to give a little insulin to

help it bring down? Do I need to eat something to come up?

It's just constantly doing little things, checking it, making

sure you're where you need to be.''

When she was first diagnosed, Abby had to give herself

injections, and didn't have the insulin pump, phone app and

other devices she has now to help her monitor her blood

sugar. ``I didn't have the easiest time with it, so if I get

the chance to maybe help other kids not have that, it's

really important to me,'' she said. ``I think that's a big

part of what keeps me involved with this stuff.'' Last

summer, Abby helped out at Camp Tamarack, during a week that

is dedicated to kids with Type 1 diabetes. In the future, she

said she wants to travel and see the world.

Though there are two types of diabetes, they are fairly

different, and Abby thinks that's part of the reason why Type

1 diabetics have a hard time being diagnosed. ``(Type 1

diabetes) is definitely a hard disease to see, and it is

common. A lot of people have it, which is why it's so weird

that it's almost unheard of at times,'' she said. ``Diagnosis

is not easy for a lot of kids. My time with diagnosis was

easy. My mom's a doctor, so we caught it super easy, which

was very lucky. Kids that don't have that same chance--I knew

a kid who didn't know, his parents had no idea it could be a

possibility and he got super sick. When he woke up in the

morning, he had to get evac'd out and had brain damage. He

had to learn how to walk again. It's just so hard. It really

needs both that work towards a cure and showing that this is

something out there that people struggle with.''

Mr. Speaker, it has been 6 months since I was sworn in to serve Oregon's Fifth Congressional District. Since then, we have seen the programs we rely on cut, costs rise, and the needs of the American people ignored.

That is why I always encourage Oregonians to call my office and make their voices heard. I have heard from over 50,000 Oregonians, taken over 120 constituent meetings, and held 10 townhalls, including 6 as part of my ``Give `em Hell'' tour.

The stories I hear help me elevate the issues in our district and fight back, including with these floor speeches, or as I call them, protest speeches. Today is my 22nd one where I have shared constituent stories to help defend SNAP, Social Security, Medicare, and more, and call out my Republican colleagues.

I hope Oregonians will keep sharing their stories with me, and I will keep amplifying them. We have to keep the pressure on my Republican colleagues and President Trump by winning in the court of public opinion.

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, tomorrow marks 3 years since the Supreme Court voted to strip women of their reproductive healthcare rights, overturning 50 years of legal precedent. I am talking about the Dobbs decision.

I rise today because that devastating decision has put the health of women nationwide at risk. Since then, States have issued extreme restrictions on abortion, forcing thousands of women to travel or risk prosecution to access basic healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. As a mother to two daughters, hear me when I say it: Decisions regarding reproductive healthcare should not be in the hands of politicians and lawmakers. We must protect and expand reproductive freedom for women everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to end the damage of the Dobbs decision and restore a woman's right to choose.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the President's trash bill is out here cutting funding for a program that supports low-income kids and families, supports our seniors, and supports those without housing. I rise today because those cuts will leave people in my district hungry. I rise today because that is unacceptable.

I am talking about SNAP. SNAP provides children and families in my district and across this country with the help they need to put food on the table. It reduces food insecurity, and it boosts our local economies. Our communities can't afford cuts to these benefits.

It is a vital lifeline for my constituents. Over 733,000 Oregonians used SNAP benefits last year, and that is over one in six residents in the State.

It is unconscionable to give $2 trillion in tax breaks to the ultra- wealthy by defunding this food assistance American families depend on.

Mr. Speaker, we can do better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I got this message from an Oregonian named Donna. She says: ``Please fight to protect Federal employee retirement benefits. They should not be slashed. Federal employees are currently putting up with so much to keep this country running.

``Immediately reducing our pay and benefits on top of everything else is a kick in the teeth. It is also a bait and switch. It should not be legal. I was promised certain benefits when I started, and they should not be taken away from me when I am less than 2 years from retirement.

``Who is going to run the government? You know, provide services that keep the planes in the sky, the power flowing, the food safe, and warn of pending major life-threatening events, events like hurricanes and infectious diseases? Who will want to work for the American people after this latest attack? Stop abusing us.''

Mr. Speaker, I challenge you to explain these cuts to Donna.

Mr. Speaker, this is Rose. She is 7 years old and in the first grade, and she makes friends everywhere she goes.

Rose was diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic syndrome when she was just 3\1/2\. She now uses a feeding tube and a wheelchair. Medicaid allows Rose to receive physical therapy. Thanks to this therapy, she is starting to take steps.

Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues are working overtime to take Rose's healthcare away. It might be easy for people to strike through one number and write in another, take a little bit from here and there, but each of those numbers represents a person, a child like Rose, who will lose critical care so billionaires can have more money in their pockets.

We cannot let them steal from our kids and our families. We will not.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding efforts made by one of my own constituents, Mr. Bob Sanders. Mr. Sanders' feat of cycling across the continental United States at the age of 85 is a true accomplishment. I include in the Record the following article, written by Peyton Thomas in the Central Oregon Daily, highlighting the 44-day journey.

85-Year-Old Bend Man Bikes Across America, Eyes World Record

(Peyton Thomas, Reporter)

Bend, Ore.--After 44 days, thousands of miles and every

imaginable type of road, Bob Sanders is back home in Bend.

The 85-year-old just finished biking across the country,

becoming the oldest man to complete the feat from coast to

coast. Sanders started in San Diego and wrapped up his ride

in St. Augustine, Florida, relying on sheer determination and

a couple of close companions to get there. ``Jack, and then

Kathryn. It couldn't have been done without,'' Sanders said.

His longtime friend Jack Hoker served as his support driver

for nearly a month, following Bob's every move across the U S

``He said, `Jack, I'm thinking about biking across the United

States. Would you be interested in being my support vehicle?'

'' Hoker recalled. ``I thought it over and got back to him

and said, `Yeah, I'll do it.' '' The ride

wasn't just about miles. It became a journey of connection

with the country and its people.

``I have a good feeling about America now because people

were so kind and helpful and friendly,'' said Bob's wife,

Kathryn Sanders. ``The very best thing about it is to realize

Americans and America is still one country,'' Bob added. ``We

all still love our country without a doubt.'' Sanders is now

preparing to submit all the necessary evidence to the

Guinness Book of World Records, including GPS data, photos,

and witness accounts, in hopes of officially claiming the

title as the oldest man to bike across America. ``He has

determination. He has grit,'' said Kathryn. ``And I think he

could show a lot of people what you can do with that.''

Still, when asked if he'd do it again? ``I'm glad I did it,''

Sanders said ``But I'll tell you one thing without

hesitation--I wouldn't do it again.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the President is out here in these streets cutting funding for programs that support a lot of things Americans care about: Survivors of sexual assault, programs that offer mental health care for police officers and keep hotlines to victims of crime open, programs that assist law enforcement in rural communities, provide guidance on finding safe housing, and offer care and counseling for children facing abuse.

Mr. Speaker, local organizations have been sounding the alarm of what these cuts would mean for our communities, and today I am joining them. In some situations, these services are make or break, and we just can't let our communities and our neighbors down.

Mr. Speaker, this week is Police Week, and if the President is truly supportive of safer communities, he should quit cutting funding for programs that work to keep them that way.

Mr. Speaker, today is the 122nd day of the 119th Congress. It has been 122 days since I began the fight in Congress for lower costs, more jobs, and a better quality of life for Oregonians.

Unfortunately, I have yet to have the opportunity to vote on a single meaningful bill that would help achieve those goals. Grocery prices are still increasing, housing isn't getting more affordable, and it is getting harder for families to make ends meet.

Yet, we are voting this week on the Gulf of America Act, a bill that does nothing to lower costs. It has been the same story week after week. That is why I led my freshman colleagues in telling Speaker Johnson that we are fed up and that it is time to work on costs.

I will keep sounding the alarm until we start helping the American people.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to get serious.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand up for my constituents who rely on Social Security and Medicare.

Nearly 1 million Oregonians collect Social Security, and almost 20 percent of the State's population receives Medicare. These critical programs are under attack, and Americans are scared.

I spent the last 2 weeks talking with people in my district, and I have heard their concerns. Seniors are facing unprecedented delays in getting benefits they rely on, and it makes it hard for them to pay their expenses. They don't know if this administration is going to pull the rug out from underneath them and leave them without the benefits they have earned.

These benefits are not a Ponzi scheme. These benefits are not government handouts. They are earned benefits for American citizens.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to stand up for Americans and protect these programs with our lives and our votes.