Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm regarding attempts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion, referred to as ``DEI,'' initiatives in medical education.

Any anti-DEI efforts endanger our Nation's healthcare and threaten our global leadership in medical science.

Many in this Chamber owe their health and lives to the groundbreaking work of physicians of color, specifically today, Black physicians. Many of our loved ones are living healthier and longer lives thanks to Black physicians and medical pioneers.

Madam Speaker, let me just ask this Chamber and those watching to listen and then you be the judge when I say to you: Let's start with Dr. Kizzy Corbett, who led in the development of the Moderna COVID vaccine.

Now, Madam Speaker, many in this very Chamber, Republicans, Democrats, and those in leadership, received the vaccine, and we can thank her for her pioneering leadership, for not contracting COVID or being hospitalized or dying from severe COVID symptoms.

What are we afraid of for physicians of color to be in medical schools that receive Federal funding and that the school is sensitive to cultural needs, to DE and I?

One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. Whether you are Republican or Democrat, if you or a loved one have benefited from early breast cancer detection, it is thanks to Dr. Myra Logan, a Black woman. She developed early methods for breast cancer detection and treatment, along with new antibiotics.

Others have benefited from advancements in chemotherapy because of Dr. Jane Wright who pioneered this vital cancer treatment in 1949 when it was still experimental.

Madam Speaker, there are people in this Chamber who have gone through chemotherapy. There are Members of this Chamber, Democrats and Republicans, who have benefited from the pioneering efforts of Black physicians.

Now, we want to say that we will remove Federal funding if a medical school wants to have programs for the underserved, for those who are representing the great diversity in this America in which we live?

Simply put, doctors of color, and Black medical doctors in particular, have shaped medical science, saving countless lives globally. Despite their essential medical contributions, systemic barriers cause their underrepresentation in the ranks of medical doctors.

As a result, DEI programs and practices are key to their increased participation in our Nation's healthcare system.

Listen to this, Madam Speaker, 60 percent of physicians in the United States are White, compared to just 5.7 percent of Black physicians, and that is with the support of DE and I programs and practices.

The question today is: What are Republicans afraid of? DEI offices in medical schools promote racial diversity and cultural competencies among physicians. Both improve healthcare for all Americans--all Americans, especially underserved communities of color.

DE and I practices and training help correct biases about racial differences that adversely impact medical judgments, treatment decisions, and patient interactions, regardless of socioeconomic status.

We, therefore, need to be doing more. Let me say this again. We, therefore, need to be doing more and not less to ensure that our Nation's healthcare workforce is diverse and culturally competent.

Why am I doing this today? Why do I take this hour to come to this floor in this Chamber where we will make decisions that affect the lives of all Americans? We celebrate our rich history, the 70th anniversary of Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka, which is all about the education of our children. You would think in 70 years that we would have moved away from the systemic racism, that we would have moved away from not wanting us to be culturally sensitive to help us serve all Americans.

I am here today because some of my Republican colleagues supporting this bill, the so-called education act, which would cut off Federal funding to medical schools pursuing DE and I initiatives.

Let me say this again. I know it is hard to believe for those who are watching me in this Chamber, this Chamber where we are elected to represent all people--we know there is not a competitive edge. You have already heard the facts that only 5.7 percent of the physicians are Black Americans. This so-called education act, again, would cut off Federal funding to medical schools pursuing DE and I initiatives.

This harmful legislation and similar DE and I threats prioritize intolerance over innovation and stifle cultural competencies in the medical profession.

What if I suggested and wrote legislation that would say we will withdraw Federal funding from medical schools that fail to implement culturally sensitive and DE and I policies and practices?

What if?

Madam Speaker, oh, let's take it a step forward this morning. What if I were to say that legacy programs at medical schools should be abolished and that relatives and donors who simply write a check to have their name listed on the wing of a medical school, that their children could not go there, that they would not be able to have a legacy program where simply because of writing a check you could be admitted to a medical school? Should they receive or should they not receive preferential treatment in medical admissions?

We know that this happens.

Over 60 percent of the United States' doctors are White while White people comprise just over 50 percent of the population. You do the math. Who is overrepresented here? Look at the legacy admission policies and other forms of systemic racism, and you tell me who has an unfair advantage.

We should support and not stop initiatives that help diversity or help to diversify our physician pipeline, such as a program called Made for Medicine and Adtalem.

Made for Medicine supports Black middle and high school students interested in medicine with training and mentoring to best position them for success.

This program, Made for Medicine, is such an incredible program. Madam Speaker, it gives me great honor today because the founder of that program, a young, brilliant physician, who just happens to be a Black American, just happens to be someone that I have watched grow up. I have watched the dedication of Dr. Laura Espy-Bell who decided for all communities that it would be good to be able to have a program that educated our children, so they could see faces like them. The research shows when we go into a hospital when you are Black how great it is to see someone that looks like you, whether you are Hispanic to see someone like you or Asian American, and the list could go on, to be able to have that appreciation.

The list could go on to be able to have that appreciation. You see, Mr. Speaker, not only is Dr. Laura Espy-Bell the founder of Made for Medicine, she could have just talked about herself, but she brought other doctors along with her. Some are photographed here. I have another photograph that we will get on the floor soon of Black male doctors.

You see, Madam Speaker, as shown in this photograph, you have a young physician. I call him Dr. B.J., Dr. B.J. Hicks. He is a cardiovascular neurologist. He did his internship and his residency at the Henry Ford Hospital. Not only is he a brilliant, brilliant neurologist, but he gives back through the national American Heart Association. He is revered in his field, one of the top in the Nation.

Guess what, Madam Speaker? He doesn't just serve Black Americans. He serves White and Brown Americans, like all of these physicians. This brilliant doctor, B.J. Hicks, comes from a line, a family line, of physicians. His father, a dear friend and constituent in

my Third Congressional District, the world would put his reputation as an oncologist among the best of White physicians and Black physicians.

Now, just think, Madam Speaker, for the young doctor, William Hicks and B.J. Hicks, coming up that we are denying that right for someone like Spencer, my grandson, or Leah, my granddaughter, who may want to follow in their footsteps if they went to a medical school that had Federal funding and said: We want to have DE and I programs.

B.J. Hicks' sister and dear friend is a doctor of dermatology. When you walk into her downtown medical practice, Dr. Shari Hicks-Graham's office is as diverse looking as if we looked to the left and right of this Chamber.

Again, we would not have brilliant doctors like the Hickses if this legislation goes forward. I could go on and on.

Madam Speaker, I could tell you about Dr. Joshua Joseph who did his internship and residency at Yale School of Medicine. I could tell you that he is an endocrinologist and his wife is a neurologist. They are two young Black physicians who are saving Black, Brown, and White lives.

Nevertheless, here we are today in this Chamber dealing with a piece of legislation that says that medical schools shouldn't be culturally sensitive and that medical schools should not have DE and I programs, yet our country is built on a history, thank goodness, of pioneers in medicine who have saved Black, Brown, and White lives, Democrat and Republican, and a Republican would bring to this House floor a bill that should not see the light of day.

Let me just say that these physicians and thousands more were trained at institutions, thank goodness, that understood teaching and practicing cultural sensitivity and having DE and I initiatives.

Adtalem is the leading healthcare educator that partners with organizations to address their future workforce needs. Eighty percent of their medical graduates serve low-income communities, and 44 percent are in medically underserved areas. When you look at these two programs, Madam Speaker, they are just a few examples of how DE and I initiatives can enrich our Nation's physician pipeline.

Earlier this month, I proudly filed a resolution with my colleague, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, that stands in stark contrast, Madam Speaker, to the so-called EDUCATE Act. Rather than cutting Federal funding to medical schools, pursuing DE and I initiatives is outlined in the EDUCATE Act, our resolution reaffirms the importance of DE and I efforts in medical education.

Our resolution is supported with over 25 medical and medical education organizations, including the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American College of Physicians, and the American Federation of Teachers. Make no mistake, the EDUCATE Act is yet another misguided Republican effort to diminish the quality of healthcare of all Americans, especially communities of color.

Whether it is proposing a voucher-like system for Medicare, reducing the Affordable Care Act protections for individuals with preexisting conditions, or attempting to substitute the ACA coverage for Medicaid recipients, Republicans continue to attack equitable, quality healthcare access.

Meanwhile, my side of the aisle continues to work for accessibility and affordable healthcare by lowering the cost of prescription drugs. I could tell you, Madam Speaker, how many people are diabetic and went to get their insulin and could not afford it. Madam Speaker, that is just not Black Americans, that is Black, Brown, and White. Someone in the gallery today is diabetic, and when we were able for our seniors to lower that cost to $35 a month, we did not care whether they were Democrat, Republican, Black, Brown, or White. It was about putting people over politics. It was about serving the wonderful America that I have the opportunity to serve.

If it seems like I am passionate today, I am. I lost my late husband just a few years ago unexpectedly, but I am thankful that there were doctors there in his time of need, Black and White physicians. Yes, they went to medical schools that had Federal funding. Yes, they understood our life and our culture because they were sensitive to cultural and diversity issues.

All I am asking today of my colleagues is to just look at what is right for our children and for our families. Today, we had 300-some students in the eighth grade here in this Chamber. A week ago, I had 200-some eighth graders in this Chamber touring this wonderful institution.

Madam Speaker, do you know how proud I was to be able to tell them about the rich culture and the rich history? How proud I was to be able to tell them how I am fighting for civility, how I am fighting for us to work together, and how the days of Rosa Parks not sitting in that seventh row in the seat for colored women and colored men without being arrested are over?

We should be far beyond 1955, far beyond 70 years ago when we couldn't attend the same schools because of segregation. Here in this House is no place for us to deny Black physicians who serve Black, White, and Brown constituents the opportunity to matriculate in a medical school because that medical school, thank goodness, believed in serving all people and believed in training brilliant minds, like these physicians, to go out in the world and not, not understand the value of taking care medically and socially people of all colors, of all ethnicities, and of all races?

Today, in this Chamber we have Members who want to take away the rights of medical schools to be able to teach cultural sensitivity and to have DE and I programs.

I am so grateful to have had this opportunity and this hour to share my views, to share my passions, and, Madam Speaker, to ask this Chamber to not allow that bill to see the light of day.

Madam Speaker, for the people and putting people over politics, I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, today I stand with my Congressional Black Caucus colleagues to address the urgent challenges faced by the Black community in mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month and to call us to advocacy, awareness and action.

While Black adults experience mental illness at similar rates to the general population, they face different outcomes. Between 2010 and 2020, Black individuals saw significant increases in suicide rates. While the share of drug overdose deaths among majority individuals decreased between 2015 and 2020, shares of these deaths among Black people rose, accounting for their disproportionate share of drug overdose deaths.

The barriers to mental wellness for Black Americans are complex. They include but are not limited to mental health treatment stigma, limited access to culturally competent care, or care at all, and the enduring effects of racism and racial trauma. Historical and ongoing racism contributes to higher poverty rates, increased incarceration, and limited access to healthcare and housing, as well as more subtle forms of discrimination like microaggressions, all of which deeply impact Black mental health.

Despite comparable rates of mental health conditions, only 39 percent of Black individuals have received mental health services due to systemic barriers and stigma. Approximately 10 percent of Black people lack health insurance, significantly affecting their access to care, and when care is sought, it often occurs in emergency departments rather than from mental health specialists. The scarcity of Black professionals in the mental health field exacerbates this gap in health care access, understanding, and trust.

Our response must include advocacy, awareness, and action.

We must push for policies that dismantle systemic barriers to mental health care, and societal drivers of Black mental health challenges. We must pursue initiatives that focus on education and destigmatization so more Black individuals seek help without fear of judgment. And we must act. We must promote diversity, equity, and inclusion training in medical education and provider training to mitigate provider bias and care inequality. And we must continue to address the enduring effects of racism and racial trauma.

Mental health is a right, not a privilege, and it is our duty to ensure that this right is upheld for every community, especially those that have been marginalized for far too long. Let us use National Mental Health and Wellness Month to commit to meaningful change. Together, we can foster healing, understanding, and resilience for all Americans.

Mr. Speaker, as co-Chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition,

I want to recognize May 10th as National Lipid Day. More than 71 million adults have high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which increases their risk of developing heart disease--one of the leading causes of death in the United States. LDL-C accumulation in the arteries decreases the flow of blood and can deprive the heart or brain from an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which can lead to a heart attack or stroke, is responsible for nearly 85 percent of cardiovascular deaths. More than 200 studies with over 2,000,000 patients have broadly established that elevated LDL-C levels unequivocally cause ASCVD.

Any comprehensive effort to reduce the number of adverse heart and stroke events across the country must be centered on cardiovascular disease prevention. We must also ensure that those who have already suffered a cardiac event do not suffer another. New data shows that there is a gap in care for Medicare beneficiaries who have had a heart attack. Less than 30 percent of Medicare Fee-for-Service beneficiaries' LDL-C levels were tested in the 90 days after being hospitalized due to a heart attack, despite clinical guidelines recommending earlier and more frequent LDL-C testing to monitor and manage one's cholesterol levels. In fact, a third of those survivors did not receive an LDL-C test in the full year following their heart attack. The importance of timely LDL-C testing cannot be understated. Patients who fail to reach their LDL-C level goals are at a 44 percent higher risk of experiencing an adverse cardiac event. The lack of guideline-directed care represents a missed opportunity to prevent further adverse events.

According to an article published by the American Heart Association, Black Americans and other people of color suffered a disproportionately higher increase in cardiovascular disease-related deaths during the pandemic than their white counterparts. Black Americans experienced a 20 percent increase in cardiovascular disease-related deaths during the pandemic, compared to just a 2 percent increase among white Americans in the same timeframe. A person's race or ethnicity should not put them at a higher risk of incurring a cardiac event, yet this data shows striking disparities exist among racial and ethnic groups. All Americans deserve quality cardiovascular care with a focus on prevention and getting access to innovative treatments when needed. Special attention should be focused on the disparities in outcomes that occur among racial and ethnic groups.

On National Lipid Day, we must recognize the importance of routine lipid screening and management as a critical piece of the puzzle while we work to significantly reduce the frequency of cardiac events.

Mr Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Black Maternal Health Week, to urgently address the ongoing epidemic surrounding the mortality and health of Black mothers, and to implore this esteemed body to take decisive action on legislation that can help reverse this alarming reality.

Women in America are tragically dying at a higher rate from pregnancy-related causes than in any other developed nation. The disparities are even more stark for Black women, who are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than their white counterparts. This heartbreaking statistic is rooted in a long history of systemic racism and bias. Studies reveal that Black women facing severe injuries or pregnancy complications, or simply seeking assistance, are often dismissed or overlooked in healthcare settings that should prioritize their care--a stark truth regardless of socioeconomic status. A recent study highlighted that even the wealthiest Black mothers and their babies face twice the risk of mortality compared to their white counterparts. This disparity transcends income, as high-income Black women and low-income white women experience similar rates of childbirth-related deaths. Additionally, many nonaffluent Black mothers lack access to safe housing, affordable transportation, and nutritious food--essential elements that profoundly impact maternal health. Systemic injustice in our health care and other national capabilities threatens the lives and well-being of all Black mothers, who are unequivocally American mothers.

We cannot allow these inequities to persist when potential solutions exist. I urge my esteemed colleagues to rally behind the efforts and legislation of the Black Maternal Caucus, dedicated to addressing these pressing concerns and championing the welfare of Black mothers. A crucial step forward is the passage of The Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, H.R. 3305 comprising 13 vital bills aimed at tackling this crisis and promoting healthcare equity for Black mothers. The Momnibus encompasses measures to enhance healthcare and economic support for Black mothers, bolster our federal and community capacity to understand and rectify this crisis, and expand and diversify our perinatal workforce to better serve Black mothers. This monumental legislation is cosponsored by 193 of my House Democratic colleagues, 32 senators, and backing from 200 stakeholder organizations.

The Momnibus Act can be a vital first step in forging an America where Black mothers can flourish. Let us unite in our commitment to ensure the health and well-being of all mothers, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, as we strive towards a future where every mother receives the care and support she deserves.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to underscore the critical importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across America--a subject deeply personal to me, as a Black woman.

Generations of separate and unequal education, housing, employment, and compensation have left Black Americans at a persistent disadvantage. DEI holds our Nation accountable for this unjust and unequal treatment that began with slavery and segregation and continues with policies and practices that persist in discriminating against Black people denying them equal opportunity and treatment.

The statistics are stark: non-white school districts receive $2,226 less per student on average, contributing to an achievement gap that reduces Black students' college attendance and lifetime earnings by 65 percent. Even with advanced degrees, African American women earn significantly less than their white male counterparts and still less than white males with less education. African American women holding advanced degrees, such as a master's, earn $7 less per hour than Caucasian men with a bachelor's degree, and $17 less per hour than their Caucasian male peers.

Furthermore, systemic biases persist in financial systems, where Black families earning substantially more than white families are still less likely to qualify for loans. A Black family earning $157,000 per year is less likely to qualify for a loan than a white family earning $40,000. DEI efforts must continue to level the playing field and establish a meritocracy reflecting our national values.

While correcting for the injustice of the past and present, DEI is a tool of intention, shaping our national protectory. It compels us to strategically engage all our country's talent to compete in the global marketplace of today and tomorrow.

In today's fiercely competitive global economy, America's innovation, and adaptability hinge on our ability to harness the talents and perspectives of all our citizens. By cultivating diverse talent pipelines and fostering inclusive practices, we not only enhance our competitiveness but also lead in the global arena. Companies embracing DEI outperform their peers, with McKinsey studies showing a significant profitability gap between leading DEI practicing organizations and those lagging. Companies in the fourth quartile of both gender and ethnic diversity were 27 percent more likely to underperform on profitability than all other companies in their peer group.

Despite the proven benefits of DEI, right-wing conservatives seek to dismantle these efforts, perpetuating racial hostility and discrimination. Workplace discrimination lawsuits have surged, and hate crimes continue to rise to record levels year after year, in their wake, underscoring the urgent need for DEI to counteract these trends and increase awareness of each other's humanity and perspective.

The DEI journey we have embarked upon is not just about numbers or statistics; it's about the fundamental values that define who we are as a Nation and our ability to thrive economically.

Let us recommit to DEI policies not only for the Black community but for all marginalized groups. Our diversity is our greatest asset, and by embracing it, we can forge a brighter, more prosperous America for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during this month, Women's History Month, and it gives me great pleasure to rise today to honor a woman who has made history and is making history: the Honorable Marcia Fudge, the 18th Secretary of HUD, former United States female Black- American Member of Congress, a lawyer, a prosecutor, and the very first female and Black person to be mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

She hailed as the 21st national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is a sojourner, she is a colleague, an adviser, and, more importantly, Mr. Speaker, a trusted friend.

Fudge never sat down and waited for an opportunity. She made opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I know that firsthand. I had known Marcia Fudge for decades prior to coming to the United States Congress. As a matter of fact, when I was a senior vice president at the Ohio State University, then-Congresswoman Marcia Fudge invited me to sit in the gallery as, again, she made history.

It was Congresswoman Marcia Fudge who honored the State of Ohio and my leadership for making Ohio the first State to honor Rosa Parks and what she did on December 1, 1955. Marcia Fudge entered it into the Congressional Record from this very spot. That was another history for the great State of Ohio.

A few years later, there I was, a candidate for the United States Congress, and, again, it was then-Congresswoman Marcia Fudge who stood by my side and elevated me to have the confidence and the assurance that I, too, one day would stand on this House floor.

Then as a freshman, she entrusted me to be the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference. Never in the history of the CBC had a freshman been appointed some 40 days after being elected to chair such a massive event, but that is what Congresswoman Marcia Fudge did. She elevated people. She worked with people. She went out and mentored young students so they would know that they, too, could have opportunities.

It was no surprise to us that she became the seventh Black woman to chair the Congressional Black Caucus and the 21st national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. It was no surprise when the President tapped her to be the 18th United States HUD Secretary.

When she walked into that White House, she brought with her a whole village because she understood the depth and the importance of what it would mean to be United States HUD Secretary.

Marcia Fudge's tireless efforts have not only helped families keep their homes, but she has also made the American Dream of homeownership a reality. It is a reality for countless individuals, including returning citizens. Through her advocacy, she has opened doors of housing and business opportunities for Black and Brown communities, championing equity every step of the way.

Her stand against racial bias in the appraisal market is a testament to her commitment to justice and fairness. Marcia Fudge's impact on housing and racial equity will resonate for generations to come.

Ohioans know her as a leader, a fighter, and an advocate for justice. We know her here as Congresswoman and Secretary Marcia Fudge.

I wish her good luck on her journey.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to join my colleagues for this Special Order hour. I cannot think of a better time that I would stand in this House and be able to salute women, especially Black women.

I thank our coanchors, the Honorable Jonathan Jackson and the Honorable Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, my good friend, for reminding us of our rich history.

Today, we will hear many members of the Congressional Black Caucus come forward and talk about a list of women, especially Black women, who came before us and whose shoulders we stand on, like Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Shirley Chisholm. Later this week, in this very Chamber, for the third time, a woman will sit in the seat where you are sitting, Madam Speaker, as we hear the State of the Union Address--a Black woman, who also happens to be the first woman ever to become Vice President of these United States of America.

We also celebrate this month--sadly, that we are giving it 1 month. Obviously, if I had my way, we would celebrate it every day, but we will honor women like those who have been able to sit in that seat running Fortune 500 companies--people like Ursula Burns; my good friend, Roz Brewer; and now Thasunda Duckett. We also honor young women like poet Amanda Gorman.

We think of the women who have done so much, whether they are doctors or athletes or educators or judges like Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson--another Black woman whose shoulders we stand on.

But let me end with this, Madam Speaker, as we saved the best for last. There are 31 Black women serving in the United States Congress. If I had enough time, I would do a roll call telling you that they hail from Alabama to Washington, D.C.

Let me just leave it at this: 31 Black women--thank God we put people over

politics; 31 Black women serving in this Chamber that understand that we have a right to women's reproductive rights; 31 Black women understanding that we support the child's tax credit; 31 Black women who understand that more women are now insured because of the Affordable Care Act; 31 Black women who understand that the first act that then-President Obama signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Act.

I could go on and give you a walk through this amazing history that I have been allowed to serve in as the ninth Black woman to have chaired the Congressional Black Caucus. I say to you that we have been fortunate to have another female sit in that chair as the Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

To those who are witnessing us tonight, I say to all watching, we celebrate, we honor, we stand on the shoulders of women, especially Black women, because we know when women succeed, America succeeds. Let us continue to put people over politics.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the more than 160,000 Black-owned employer businesses in the U.S. during National Entrepreneurship Week.

Black businessowners experience pervasive barriers to accessing capital--more than any other demographic.

According to the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Equity, two-thirds of Black employers seek financing to expand business operations, yet half of them are denied loans and lines of credit.

Micael Habte is the owner of Upper Cup Coffee, an Eritrean-based coffee shop and wholesale coffee supplier located in the Old Towne East neighborhood of Columbus. Despite capital challenges due to COVID-19, today Micael is running two cafes, and a coffee kiosk, and has even expanded his roasting facility.

I'm proud of the fortitude businessowners like Micael have displayed, and I urge my colleagues to closely consider the challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs.

We must work together to build a stronger, more equitable economy for all.

Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Black History Month, we must embrace that Black History Month and Black history is American history. When we embrace Black history as American history, we tap into a wellspring of intellect, perspective, and capacity.

Individually, we shine, but collectively, we radiate brilliance and effect change in our Nation and around the world--change as doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, artists, sports folks, Members of Congress, moms, and more.

I honor Harriet Tubman, the first woman to lead an armed Civil War expedition, freeing over 700 South Carolinians. Today at noon, I celebrate the Harriet Tubman Commemorative Coin Act in honor of her 200th birthday, authored by Congressman Greg Meeks. However, Madam Speaker, this is just the first step. I will continue to fight for Tubman on the $20 bill.

As we strive to make Black history a required part of American history, we must first recognize the trailblazers.

I celebrate Rosa Parks, who resisted on the day of December 1 on that bus and who paved the way for integrated public transportation. Rosa Parks sat down on that bus so I can stand in the Halls of Congress today.

Rosa Parks, the mother of the civil rights movement, was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for her bravery. I am proud that I authored the first Rosa Parks Day in the Nation in Ohio on December 1.

I celebrate my lifelong friend and mentor, Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley, the first African-American woman officer in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps. The top-ranking Black woman officer, Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley, battled segregation in the United States Army, laying the groundwork for today's integrated military. As a member of the Six Triple Eight Battalion, she posthumously received the Congressional Gold Medal.

I honor Dr. Dolly Desselle Adams, a trailblazer, activist, community leader, a dear friend and mentor who passed away 6 days ago, a legend in the Episcopal Church as a supervisor, a 60-year member of The Links, Incorporated, and the eighth national president.

As a young member of The Links, Incorporated, the iconic Dolly Adams held my hand and said: I am paving the way for you to go make a difference.

She was granted the Order of the Palmetto, the State's highest honor. Dolly Adams is Black history.

I celebrate Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman and the first Black person to be Vice President of these United States of America. She speaks to America and the world with a strong voice of protecting our democracy and fighting for equality and justice to save the soul of this Nation, always putting people over politics.

Madam Speaker, as we stand here today, I am honored to be able to come today to salute so many Black Americans. I celebrate Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, appointed by President Biden, the first Black woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. I had the distinct pleasure of testifying as a witness at her confirmation hearing in 2022. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is Black history, American history.

Finally, I celebrate Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet at a Presidential inauguration. Her story inspires youth worldwide to choose democracy's brilliance over the hopelessness of autocracy. Amanda Gorman is American history. Let us not have her books banned by this Congress or anyone else but be read by all of our schoolchildren.

These historic roles, Madam Speaker, celebrate our Nation's progress and compel us to leverage talent across race and gender for national prosperity. Celebrating Black history as American history allows us to celebrate our Nation's shared brilliance, strength, wisdom, and power.

Madam Speaker, I close by saying, for this reason, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 703, the Black History is American History Act.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on the House floor on the afternoon of January 11, 2024, and the morning of January 12, 2024, because these two vote series conflicted with a funeral in Ohio that I attended to honor the life of a dear friend of mine, who sadly passed away recently. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 6; NAY on Roll Call No. 7; NAY on Roll Call No. 8; YEA on Roll Call No. 9; and NAY on Roll Call No. 10.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 540, the bipartisan Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Kim of California and Congressman Green of Texas.

This bill would require the United States to advocate for Taiwan's membership and meaningful participation at the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, to the extent that admission is sought by Taiwan.

IMF membership provides several nonprofit benefits to participants, such as access to information on members' economic policies; access to technical assistance related to banking, fiscal affairs, and exchange issues; financial support in times of payment distress; and opportunities for trade and investment.

If IMF admission is sought by Taiwan, this bill would further require the United States to press the IMF to monitor and evaluate the health of Taiwan's economy; provide technical support to Taiwanese officials regarding microeconomic, monetary, and budget policies; and support employment opportunities at the IMF for Taiwan nationals.

To date, Taiwan has not formally requested membership at the IMF. I also understand that Taiwan does not intend to request membership this Congress and is, instead, focusing on other organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL. We respect that and appreciate the structure of this bill that positions the United States to act should Taiwan request membership.

I also believe it is critical that the United States continue to signal unequivocal opposition to the prospect of China using force in an effort to take control of Taiwan, especially as China is watching Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Democrats have been sounding the alarm, and I will repeat this warning here today: We must provide additional funding for Ukraine or we risk emboldening China's aggression against Taiwan.

While I support this bill and all efforts to prevent conflict in the Taiwan Strait, I am concerned that if Congress cannot come together to provide additional funding for Ukraine, our efforts here today will be in vain.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, since the gentleman from North Carolina has no further speakers, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

This legislation from Congresswoman Kim and Congressman Green directs the United States to support Taiwan should the island pursue participation in the IMF.

Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support this bill and yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 803, the PROTECT Taiwan Act, sponsored by Congressman Lucas of Oklahoma and Congressman Vicente Gonzalez of Texas.

This bill would impose financial consequences on China if it launched a major act of aggression against Taiwan. Specifically, this bill would require Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the Securities and Exchange Commission to seek China's exclusion from the proceedings of the major financial institutions and international organizations. These include the G20, the Bank for International Settlements, the Financial Stability Board, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, and the International Organization of Securities Commissions.

In short, this bill would deny China the economic, political, and diplomatic benefits of participation in the international organizations that ensure stability of financial markets and businesses if it were to engage in a major act of aggression against Taiwan.

This bill imposes a high threshold with regard to what kind of aggression would trigger this action. Specifically, it requires a Presidential notification to Congress under section 3(c) of the Taiwan Relations Act, which would only occur if there were a substantial threat to Taiwan. For reference, section 3(c) was not triggered during the tensions of the Third Taiwan Straits Crisis of the 1990s.

I also thank the bill's sponsor for working with Democrats to adopt changes to the bill that ensures it closely mirrors a similar law passed in the last Congress aimed at Russia following its unlawful invasion of Ukraine.

Accordingly, the United States is now actively seeking Russia's exclusion from these international bodies.

If China were to cross the line Russia crossed by invading Ukraine, we would similarly seek to exclude them from these international bodies.

For all of these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support the passage of this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

This legislation from Congressmen Lucas and Gonzalez is designed to send a message to China, discouraging escalation of its aggression toward Taiwan.

I again note that while I agree that sending a strong signal to China regarding the United States' support for the prevention of conflict in the Taiwan Strait is important, we must also send a strong signal to Russia by providing additional funding to our fellow democracy, Ukraine.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 839, the China Exchange Rate Transparency Act of 2023, sponsored by Congressman Meuser.

This bill requires the United States executive director at the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, to use its voice and vote to advocate for increased transparency regarding China's exchange rate policies.

This is important because China has a history of devaluing its currency, the yuan, against the dollar, making its exports unfairly cheaper, and thereby harming small businesses in the United States.

This bill would further impose greater accountability on China by requiring the United States to press the IMF to report whether China's exchange rate policies affect the value of SDRs and to consider China's performance as a responsible partner in the international monetary system when evaluating China's voting power at the IMF.

President Biden's Treasury Department has already increased transparency of China's practices, including by placing it on a watch list for its failure to publish foreign exchange intervention and key features of its exchange rate setting mechanism.

This bill would reinforce the Biden administration's actions to further push for greater transparency and accountability in this regard.

These are sensible actions Congress can take to prevent China from using its currency as an economic weapon.

For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, this legislation builds upon the Biden administration's efforts to increase transparency and accountability of China on key features of how it sets its currency exchange rate.

It is critical to continue to apply pressure on China in this regard because weaponizing its exchange rate will directly harm the United States' small businesses selling their products and services here in the United States.

For these reasons, I again urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 6370, the OFAC Licensure for Investigators Act, which is cosponsored by Mr. Nunn of Iowa. I also thank the chairman and my friend for his support.

The global regime to counter money laundering and terrorist financing is becoming increasingly effective at detecting and deterring the abuse of our financial markets. However, we must stay ahead of the bad actors, who in many cases are moving into darker corners of the financial system and using technologies and methods that are harder to trace.

Private investigative firms, some with unique technologies and analytic methods, should be enlisted to help banks and governments, among others, identify the criminals and the terrorists, their bank accounts, and their typologies.

Today, these private firms are limited in how far they can see into a bad actor's operations. One of those limitations is due to sanctions, which appropriately prevent parties from engaging with sanctioned targets. However, as a result, whether in analytic firms or large bank intelligence units, the good guys have to stop their investigations upon finding evidence that suggest that a wallet or account or address may be associated with a sanctioned individual or entity.

There is a workaround today, but it is far too limited. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, provides licenses to individual parties and transactions which allow for narrow exceptions to its sanctions program. My bill requires OFAC to design a pilot licensing program that would allow investigators to apply to OFAC for permission to get a step further and engage with sanctioned persons under certain conditions to gain more visibility into opaque networks and practices.

The investigators could only use nominal amounts but would be able to trace where the money goes. Ensuring that there is robust oversight in this process, the bill mandates that recipients of these specific licenses must report to OFAC monthly on their findings.

This program would be similar to when government officials ask financial institutions to keep open suspicious accounts so the government could then go and watch the transactions, and while they are doing that, they are able to follow the money.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this innovative and bipartisan bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Will the gentleman yield?

Madam Speaker, I say to the gentleman that I would. I think that is a very fair question to ask. Let me just assure you that it is also my intent, as the sponsor of this bill, that the term ``nominal'' in this context should not be interpreted to be more than the $10 as you referenced, and I certainly understand why that concern came up. As you know, this bill is intended to enhance our efforts to stop terrorist financing. The kind of investigation that this bill is trying to allow for doesn't need more than a few dollars--or nominal, not to exceed $10--to be effective. We have seen this before, so I am very comfortable assuring you that we would define it as $10 or less.

I thank the gentleman for clarifying this. I, too, want to put on the record that it would be defined as the $10 mark, and I certainly thank the gentleman for his support on this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

My colleague, Mr. Nunn, and I have devised a smart pilot program that would allow for private-sector investigators to engage in small-dollar transactions with sanctioned persons in order to gain valuable information about how networks and activities of those bad actors work.

I am pleased to say that we have agreed on the nominal amount of $10, and by creating a licensing program for such a person, both business and government will benefit from the information gained, improving visibility into criminal and terrorist financing networks. That is what this bill is all about.

Madam Speaker, for those reasons, I again urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to call this chamber's attention to concerning developments in Honduras that pose a growing economic risk for Central America's Northern Triangle region.

Earlier this year, Honduran President Xiomara Castro announced her government's intent to pursue substantial investments from China after establishing diplomatic ties with the PRC in March. The Castro administration is also seeking to effectively nationalize U.S. public and private investment in Honduran special economic zones, where U.S.- led businesses are operating and focused on the creation of nearshoring facilities and bolstering the Honduran tourism industry. The elimination of these zones would constitute a violation of 50-year legal stability agreements guaranteed under the Dominican Republic- Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement. This is counterproductive to both bilateral economic development and stability for Hondurans. We all know that better jobs and economic opportunities in country benefit Honduran families while reducing the pressures that lead to irregular migration.

In July, I cosigned a letter urging the State Department and U.S. Trade Representative to protect U.S. interests in Honduras. Earlier this week, the State Department announced visa restrictions on Honduran individuals involved in what the Department described as an anti- democratic scheme to name an Attorney General and Deputy AG without the required votes through violence and intimidation. I commend the State Department's efforts and continue to stand with those seeking to strengthen democracy and rule of law in Honduras.