Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and commend the distinguished Altadena Library District on its 100th Anniversary.

Established in 1926 as an independent library district, the Altadena Libraries were founded on the principle that residents deserve a locally governed library that understands and responds to their needs. For a century, it has grown into a cherished institution, serving more than 41,000 of our neighbors to help them stay informed and access quality resources and services.

Beyond their collection of more than 60,000 books, the Altadena Libraries offer far more than access to reading materials. They also provide free services to help residents gain independence and participate more fully in community life. Through its adult literacy program and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, the libraries help residents build their reading and writing skills providing better opportunities in pursuing their education and employment.

As a vital resource for Altadenans, the Libraries are also committed to serving our neighbors of all ages. For our youth, the Altadena Libraries lay the foundation for lifelong

reading and learning. From providing Early Literacy Library Kits and hosting Storytimes to offering a Teen Volunteer Program, the Libraries help youth of all ages develop the essential skills needed to grow into successful readers and engaged members of our community.

When the Eaton Fire devastated the lives and homes of our neighbors in January 2025, the Altadena Libraries ensured that our community didn't have to face recovery alone. Thanks to the hard work of the district staff, the Altadena Main Library reopened less than two months after the fire. Since reopening, they have been a hub for residents to receive critical recovery resources and find comfort among other survivors. Through it all, the Libraries have stayed true to their mission to serve Altadena.

The 100th anniversary of the Altadena Libraries is an incredible milestone, and I am proud to honor the legacy of this institution and its impact in Altadena and the surrounding region. Because of its services, members of our community have been given the tools needed to foster literacy, expand access to knowledge, and enrich their lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and recognize the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for its successful stewardship of JPL since 1936. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, since founding the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in

1936 following a series of bold and pioneering experiments in

rocket propulsion, the California Institute of Technology has

stewarded the Laboratory into becoming a center of excellence

in robotic space exploration, providing deep and enduring

contributions to the Nation while enriching NASA's

technological and human capital;

Whereas, under Caltech's management and scientific

leadership, JPL has played a central role in many of the

United States' most historic space missions including Voyager

to Europa Clipper, having designed, built, and landed every

successful U.S. rover on Mars, and laying the foundation for

American preeminence in the solar system;

Whereas, for 90 years, Caltech and JPL have together

delivered an unmatched scientific rate of return, advancing

high-precision gravity science, groundbreaking radar imaging

and interferometry systems, revolutionary detectors for

observing Earth and other planets, and orbiting telescopes

that observe our universe;

Whereas, for 90 years, Caltech and JPL have played an

outsized role in launching and accelerating the growth of the

aerospace industry; advancing microelectronics, robotics and

deep technological breakthroughs; and serving as a source of

pride and inspiration for the State of California and the

American people; and

Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Congressmember Judy

Chu, representing California's 28th Congressional District,

do hereby:

(1) Recognize and commend the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,

the California Institute of Technology, and all of the

scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, and business

leaders whose dedication to JPL has advanced the Nation's

scientific and technological leadership;

(2) Congratulate Caltech on 90 years of leadership and

stewardship of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory;

(3) Recognize the innumerable technological breakthroughs,

revolutionary scientific discoveries, and daring exploration

that have characterized JPL's first ninety years; and

(4) Express gratitude to Caltech for its partnership with

NASA and its service to the United States and global

scientific community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the distinguished Alhambra Seventh-Day Adventist Church on its 100th anniversary.

Founded in 1926, Alhambra Seventh-Day Adventist Church has grown to a congregation of more than 400 members who are dedicated to sharing hope, supporting health and wellness, and meeting the needs of others. Guided by these principles, the church welcomes all individuals, offering opportunities to build meaningful relationships and find a sense of belonging.

Through community outreach, members of the Alhambra Seventh-Day Adventist Church strive to bring comfort to the sick and assist those facing hardships. Whether through hosting community health events, offering meals to members and neighbors, providing education and family programming, or by caring for and supporting vulnerable members of the community, Alhambra SDA Church embodies the values of loving one's neighbor.

The centennial is an occasion not only to celebrate the history of Alhambra Seventh-Day Adventist Church, but also to recognize the dedication of the pastors, leaders, members, volunteers, and supporters who have helped sustain its mission for decades. Their contributions have made a positive impact on the lives of congregation members and the Alhambra community.

I am proud to recognize Alhambra Seventh-Day Adventist Church on reaching this incredible milestone. Through caring for the sick, providing for the needy, and creating a congregation that welcomes all, the Alhambra SDA Church's impact will continue to be felt by our community for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate the distinguished Little Tokyo Nutrition Services on its 50th anniversary

Founded in 1976, Little Tokyo Nutrition Services was created to provide for the well-being of Little Tokyo's senior citizens. For the past half century, Little Tokyo Nutrition Services has grown into an invaluable resource for our community, dedicated to reducing food insecurity for seniors in the Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights neighborhoods of Los Angeles.

Little Tokyo Nutrition Services is a pillar of our community, serving more than 100 affordable meals each day to senior citizens who are living on limited income, or unable to prepare meals or shop for groceries independently. In addition to providing meals on site, Little Tokyo Nutrition Services delivers approximately 80 meals directly to homebound seniors throughout the community so that those who are most vulnerable continue to have access to nutritious food, ensuring no one is left hungry simply because they cannot leave their home.

Little Tokyo Nutrition Services addresses social isolation and promotes access to supportive services by creating a welcoming and supportive environment where seniors can foster lasting connections and a sense of belonging. Through regular social gatherings and activities, Little Tokyo Nutrition Services helps seniors remain actively engaged with their community.

Beyond nutrition and supportive services, Little Tokyo Nutrition Services helps seniors navigate the everyday challenges of modern life. Whether they need assistance with technology or transportation to their medical appointments, Little Tokyo Nutrition Services has ensured that our seniors can access the essential services and support they need.

I am proud to recognize Little Tokyo Nutrition Services on this incredible milestone and congratulate the organization on 50 years of serving seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the distinguished Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center on its 100th anniversary.

Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center was first acquired by the Passionists in 1924 and welcomed its first retreatants in July 1926. Today, several Passionist Retreat Centers can be found across the United States, welcoming all individuals who seek a deeper relationship with their faith.

Over the past 100 years, Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center has faced many challenges, from economic hardships to natural disasters including earthquakes and

wildfires. Most recently, the Eaton Fire burned many of their structures and left others filled and covered with smoke and dust. Yet, through perseverance, the Retreat Center has been able to rebuild and recover, while continuing to welcome new retreatants.

Every year, over 10,000 people receive services from Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center. It hosts weekend retreats offering opportunities for people from all backgrounds and every stage of life, including men, women, couples, and youth, to reconnect with themselves and their faith.

The 100th anniversary of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center is an incredible milestone and I am proud to recognize its legacy of the organization and their impact in Sierra Madre and across the San Gabriel Valley. Because of their services, members of our community have been given the tools they need to heal, grow, and thrive.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 9496, the End Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. I thank my colleagues, Ms. Tenney and Mr. Beyer, for their leadership on this bill.

This is a commonsense bill that would prevent hostages, detainees, and their spouses from experiencing unnecessary financial hardships when they are unable to meet their Federal tax obligations. Often, hostages and detained Americans return home to massive tax bills from the IRS in the form of late payments, interest, and penalties, sometimes totaling tens of thousands of dollars.

However, the IRS does not currently have the authority to waive filing deadlines, interest, or penalties. This bill would address this issue by postponing tax deadlines and assessments of interest and penalties for any U.S. national held hostage or detained abroad.

It would also extend relief to the spouse of the hostage or detainee. Additionally, the bill enables the Secretary of the Treasury to refund and abate any relevant interest, penalties, or addition to tax that was assessed or collected on hostages and detainees since January 2021.

It also requires the Secretary to ensure that databases and information systems are updated to permit proper tracking of deadlines and limitation periods applicable to individuals entitled to relief.

This bill would simply remove one more unnecessary obstacle and worry for our fellow Americans during an extraordinarily difficult time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close.

This bill is a commonsense way to ensure that those who have experienced the unimaginable do not face additional challenges upon their return home. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' on this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9498, the Taxpayer Advocate Participation Act. I thank my colleagues Mr. Steube and Ms. DelBene for their leadership on the bill.

This bill would allow the National Taxpayer Advocate to file amicus briefs in court cases that broadly affect the rights of taxpayers. The National Taxpayer Advocate serves as the voice of the taxpayer within the Internal Revenue Service and before Congress. She is the head of the Taxpayer Advocate Service, which is an independent organization within the IRS that advocates for taxpayers' rights.

Each year, the National Taxpayer Advocate submits an annual report to Congress outlining the top issues facing taxpayers along with the legislative recommendations to strengthen taxpayer rights, reduce taxpayer burden, and improve IRS performance.

In the most recent annual report, the National Taxpayer Advocate recommended that Congress authorize her office to file amicus briefs on issues affecting fundamental taxpayers' rights. Current law does not authorize the National Taxpayer Advocate to submit amicus briefs and share her views on Federal tax cases broadly affecting taxpayer rights. This bill would provide such authority.

This bill is a targeted, commonsense measure that ensures taxpayer voices are heard in Federal tax cases and reinforces fairness, transparency, and accountability in our tax system.

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, as the voice of the taxpayer, it is critical that the National Taxpayer Advocate can provide her expertise and insights for court cases that impact taxpayers. This bill will ensure just that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9499, the Protecting Taxpayers from Ghost Preparers Act.

I thank my colleague, Ms. Malliotakis, for her leadership on this bill. This bill helps victims of tax fraud by ensuring that the IRS is penalizing the bad actor and not the taxpayer.

The bill addresses circumstances under which a tax preparer commits fraud without the knowledge of the taxpayer. The taxpayer may not find out about a false or fraudulent return until years after it was filed, when the IRS audits the return.

Under current law, the IRS generally must begin an audit within 3 years after a return is filed. This is commonly referred to as a 3-year statute of limitations. However, when a return involves fraud with an intent to evade tax, the IRS has an indefinite amount of time to audit the return. In other words, there is no statute of limitations.

Current law does not distinguish as to when the fraud is committed by a taxpayer or when it is committed by a third party, such as the taxpayer's return preparer who files a false or fraudulent return with the intent to evade tax.

In both situations, the statute of limitations for audits is held open indefinitely, and the taxpayer is on the hook.

The bill would fix this trap for unwitting taxpayers. The bill provides that misconduct solely by a third party, such as the taxpayer's return preparer, can no longer indefinitely suspend the statute of limitations for a taxpayer.

It makes clear that only an intent to evade tax by the taxpayer would hold the statute of limitations open indefinitely for a taxpayer.

This bill protects innocent taxpayers from being indefinitely exposed to IRS enforcement actions when a false or fraudulent return was filed by the return preparer without the taxpayer's knowledge.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is a step in the right direction for protecting taxpayers from fraudulent preparers.

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

Mr. Speaker, taxpayers who follow the rules should not be liable for the actions of those who do not. This bill will ensure that the innocent taxpayers are not on the hook for the wrongdoings of bad actors.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise today in support of H.R. 9500, the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act. I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Miller and Mr. Suozzi, for their leadership on this bill.

This bill corrects a longstanding policy mistake in the tax code. During President Trump's first administration, Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act--or what Democrats like to call the Trump tax scam--where

they chose to limit the deduction for casualty and theft losses by limiting that deduction only to those losses that were incurred in a Presidential-declared disaster.

Then, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act--or what we Democrats like to call the big, ugly bill--doubled down on this policy, extending it permanently.

This policy left many financially harmed taxpayers even worse off beyond just their financial losses. Victims of theft, victims of fraud, and those that suffered casualty losses due to no fault of their own were now unable to deduct those losses from their taxes, a double whammy after suffering such a loss.

I am glad to see that my Republican colleagues have seen the error of their ways and have decided to reverse this policy.

Additionally, I am glad to see that the policy allows retroactive relief for those who were the victims of fraud during the time this policy was in effect.

Additionally, I acknowledge the tireless work of my colleagues, Representatives John Larson and Joe Courtney, who for years have been advocating on behalf of their constituents who suffered significant losses due to crumbling foundations in their homes as a result of pyrrhotite in a local quarry. Under this bill, these taxpayers will also be eligible for retroactive relief.

In sum, this bill is a long overdue reversal of a policy that harmed many taxpayers, and I am glad to support this change to give taxpayers, who may have suffered an unfortunate life event, fair treatment by our tax system.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi).

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

Mr. Speaker, by reversing this misguided policy, survivors of fraud, theft, and tremendous loss will no longer be penalized by the tax code and will still receive the fair treatment that they so rightfully deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Under Donald Trump's watch, 56 people have died in ICE custody since January, roughly one person every 11 days. Countless more individuals have suffered inside U.S. detention, denied medical care, served rotten food and dirty water, and held in filthy conditions that breed illness.

For the past 10 years, I have witnessed conditions firsthand at Adelanto ICE Processing Center, one of the deadliest immigration detention facilities in the country. During Trump's second term alone, five people have died, four while in custody and one shortly after being released: Gabriel Garcia-Aviles, Ismael Ayala-Uribe, Alberto Gutierrez-Reyes, Irvin Cruz Nape, and Jose Ramos-Solano. These were fathers, grandfathers, and community members whose lives were needlessly and painfully cut short.

In June, I met directly with Adelanto detainees on a hunger strike. They told me how they use their own underwear to filter worms out of their drinking water, how the food they have been given is rotten or raw, and how they have watched fellow detainees suffer and ultimately die from medical emergencies when all ICE offered them was ibuprofen.

These conditions are so severe that, in July, a Federal judge ruled that ICE must immediately overhaul the living conditions in Adelanto.

This is not an accident. It is a result of a system that Republicans in Congress continue to fund without demanding a single reform. They have handed ICE billions of dollars with no accountability for the deaths, abuse, or suffering happening on their watch.

Americans don't want this. They want ICE out of their communities. They want Congress to hold this agency accountable for the lives lost and the lives still at risk inside facilities like Adelanto.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the contributions to the Nation of Goran Rannefors, a senior executive at Education First (EF), upon his retirement. I proudly represent the EF Academy in Pasadena, a high school that brings students from more than 30 countries to California's 28th District and has taken a leading role in helping our communities recover from the Eaton Fire.

Throughout his 33 years of service with EF, Mr. Rannefors has created opportunities for what is estimated to be over a million students worldwide to travel, participate in cultural exchange programs, and learn English. Mr. Rannefors has served as a diplomat and champion to create and modernize opportunities for language learning and immersive exchange opportunities in the United States and around the world. In addition to his work in the private sector, he founded the Kids First Foundation, a nonprofit organization which has provided tens of thousands of children with vital resources for education, recreation, and lifesaving access to food and emergency services. Before joining EF, Mr. Rannefors served as the Swedish Trade Commissioner to North America for nearly a decade.

Mr. Rannefors retires after having truly made a difference by opening the world through education and creating global families who will forever be impacted by his legacy. On behalf of this Congress and the people of the United States, I would like to thank and congratulate Mr. Rannefors, as well as his family and colleagues, for his dedication and accomplishments to promote a more connected, peaceful, and prosperous United States.

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

Mr. Speaker, at a time when Americans are dealing with skyrocketing prices and vulnerable populations like seniors and people with disabilities are struggling to get help with their Social Security benefits because this administration has created a customer service crisis through reckless staffing cuts, it is shameful that Republicans have chosen to bring H.R. 8884 to the floor. This bill won't lower costs, won't improve customer service, and won't make it easier for people with disabilities to access the benefits they have earned. Instead, it opens the door to cutting those benefits while making SSA's customer service crisis even worse.

H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, aims to remove barriers to employment faced by individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, benefits. It tries to do this by authorizing the Social Security Administration to conduct demonstration projects designed to test program changes that may encourage work.

Let me be clear that Democrats strongly support the goal of reducing unnecessary barriers for disabled Americans who want to explore returning to work. Over the years, Democrats many times have supported giving SSA this demonstration authority. However, the bill before us today tries to accomplish this worthwhile goal in the worst possible way.

Instead of protecting beneficiaries, it hands the Trump administration broad new authority to experiment with Social Security disability benefits with virtually no meaningful guardrails.

First, let me be clear about what Social Security disability benefits are for. SSDI supports some of the most vulnerable Americans who have severe and long-lasting medical impairments that prevent them from being able to work at a level needed to financially support themselves.

SSDI is an earned benefit, with the average beneficiary having worked and paid into the system for 22 years before becoming disabled. It also has stringent eligibility criteria. To qualify, applicants must provide extensive medical evidence and undergo a rigorous eligibility determination process. Many applicants are initially denied and must appeal a process that often takes a year or more. Even after all levels of appeal, SSA typically finds only about one in three applicants eligible. SSDI benefits are extremely low, at an average of about $20,000 a year.

Most SSDI beneficiaries could not survive without these monthly payments, and that is why we must ensure that any potential change to the program does not put those benefits at risk. Yet, this bill explicitly leaves that possibility on the table. Rather than protecting earned disability benefits, it gives the administration broad discretion to test policies that could reduce them.

This isn't some abstract policy debate. Here is what this could look like in the real world.

Picture this: You have been on Social Security disability for the past 10 years after a devastating car accident rendered you unable to work and support yourself. Your monthly SSDI check isn't much, but it is the reason you can pay your bills and keep food on the table. Then, one day, the Social Security Administration contacts you about an opportunity that sounds promising--a demonstration program that will make it easier for you to get a part-time job while remaining on SSDI.

This sounds great to you because it could mean some extra income for you and your family. You sign up and start working only to realize that you are no better off financially because for every dollar you make at your new job, you lose a dollar in SSDI benefits.

After a few months, the demands of the new job start taking a toll on your health, and it becomes clear that it isn't sustainable. You contact SSA to revoke your participation in the demonstration so that you can start receiving your full SSDI benefit amount

again, but SSA doesn't reinstate your benefits right away.

Two weeks later, you still have to call SSA's 1-800 number every day, trying to get your benefits back. Every time, you are on hold for more than an hour. Even when you do get through to a staff member, they say there is a backlog. No one can tell you when you will get your check. Rent is due in a few days. You don't have the money. You feel desperate.

That is exactly the kind of outcome this bill fails to protect. Here is why. The problem is simple. This bill only guarantees that an individual's total income will not be reduced due to participation in a demonstration project. That deceptive phrasing does not guarantee that your Social Security disability benefits won't be cut or reduced because you are earning money at a part-time job.

These are two very different things. The empty promise of no reduction in total income leaves the administration with enormous discretion over people's earned benefits.

This isn't a hypothetical concern. The Trump administration has repeatedly tried to cut disability benefits and make it harder for disabled Americans to qualify. They have shown us exactly what they want to do given the opportunity.

During the first Trump administration, President Trump repeatedly tried to throw disabled people off their benefits by making it harder to qualify and subjecting them to more frequent continuing disability reviews. He proposed a budget plan that tried to slash disability benefits by $50 billion over 10 years, and a key part of that plan was to push beneficiaries into demonstration programs.

No past demonstrations had indicated that savings of any level, let alone $50 billion, could be possible without punitive measures to cut beneficiaries who can't return to work.

Just last year, the Trump administration was reportedly considering a plan to eliminate age as a factor in deciding whether someone is unable to work and eligible for SSDI, which could have blocked an estimated 750,000 people from receiving benefits. Thankfully, this plan was dropped after enormous public outcry, but that shouldn't be enough to convince us that this administration isn't still gunning to slash benefits.

An administration that has a track record of trying to cut Americans' earned disability benefits should not be given any new authority to conduct open-ended experiments that could reduce benefits.

This couldn't come at a worse time. Thanks to the administration cutting over 7,000 staff at Social Security, our constituents are waiting for hours on the phone and facing extremely long backlogs when trying to get their issues resolved.

SSDI beneficiaries rely on their benefits every month to make ends meet. They can't afford delays or roadblocks to getting the full amount of the benefits they have earned.

To make matters worse, this bill would require any new demonstration programs to be funded by SSA's operating budget, the same budget that supports the agency's customer service. In other words, this bill asks SSA to take money away from serving the public to run experiments that could jeopardize people's disability benefits.

When the Ways and Means Committee marked up this bill last month, Ranking Member John Larson offered a commonsense amendment that would have addressed these concerns by requiring demonstration projects to be funded not by SSA's customer service budget but by the SSDI trust funds, and by adding guardrails to what the Trump administration might do with the demonstration authority.

Those guardrails included ensuring that no one would see their benefits, not just total income but actual benefits, reduced due to participation in a demonstration.

The amendment would also have ensured that no demonstration could be used to deny eligibility for new SSDI applicants and would have required the SSA to provide notice and public comments on the details of any planned demonstrations.

These were basic protections to ensure that people with disabilities couldn't lose their earned benefits simply for participating in a demonstration project, yet every Republican voted this down.

If Republicans truly cared about making life better for people on Social Security disability benefits, we would be discussing bills to increase monthly benefits, fix the appeals process so people with disabilities aren't waiting years to get approved for benefits, and fix customer service at SSA by undoing this administration's disastrous staffing cuts.

Instead, Republicans have brought us a bill that gives the Trump administration new authority to experiment with Social Security disability benefits while failing to protect the very people it claims to help. People with disabilities deserve certainty, not experiments with the benefits they have earned.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Helping Purple Heart recipients find employment is wonderful and laudable. There is nothing in H.R. 8884 that requires SSA to test the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act. It is not mentioned in the underlying bill at all.

At a Ways and Means Committee markup, Ranking Member Larson asked the majority if SSA had shared information on what demonstration projects it had planned. They said: No. Trust us.

In fact, when the bill was considered at the Rules Committee a few weeks ago, Ranking Member McGovern made a motion to add a new section to the rule that would have provided for immediate consideration of Representative Scott's Purple Heart bill on the House floor. Republicans all voted ``no'' on this motion, including Representative Scott himself.

If Republicans want to do the Purple Heart bill, let's vote on that bill, not on H.R. 8884, which doesn't even mention Purple Heart recipients.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

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

Mr. Speaker, the risk that this bill poses to vulnerable Social Security disability benefits cannot be overstated. President Trump has tried time and time again to kick people with disabilities off of their benefits, including by pushing people into demonstration programs. This bill would give this administration open-ended authority to do that.

Congress has authorized this kind of SSDI demonstration authority in the past but only after working with SSA to closely review its intended projects and their impacts.

In contrast, the current SSA has not disclosed any information on how it plans to use the SSDI demonstration authority, and Ways and Means Republicans rejected a Democratic amendment that would have required a notice and public comment period for any demonstration before it gets enacted.

The bottom line is that this administration cannot be trusted to not cut people's benefits. These are earned benefits that people with disabilities rely on to make ends meet. This bill puts that lifeline in jeopardy, and that is why this House should reject this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, once again, Republicans are showing the American people exactly where their priorities lie. They claim there is no money for healthcare, no money for affordable housing, no money for childcare, and no money for gas, which costs an arm and a leg.

Yet, today, Republicans are demanding another $70 billion to supercharge Trump's mass deportation agenda, plus ICE already got $170 billion from Republicans' big, ugly bill, making them our highest funded law enforcement agency.

The message couldn't be clearer. There is always money to target immigrants but never enough for working families?

Let's be clear what Republicans are asking taxpayers for. These agencies have failed to produce meaningful accountability, transparency, or reform, even after killing two U.S. citizens.

At the same time, detainees are dying in ICE custody at record rates. Last week, I visited Adelanto ICE Detention Center in southern California. I spoke directly with detainees, who described inhumane conditions like dirty drinking water, inedible food, and nonexistent medical care. Some have even watched their neighbors die. This is what this administration wants another $70 billion for.

At a time when Americans are desperate for relief, Republicans are choosing to invest billions in a system that fails to uphold basic standards of safety, dignity, and accountability.

I am voting ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 7726, the Stop Child Care Scams Act.

As families across the country struggle with the high cost of childcare, Republicans are advancing legislation that would make it easier for the Trump administration to withhold funding that helps working people afford childcare and helps providers keep their doors open.

Why? To give President Trump more authority to target States he disagrees with politically under the guise of combating fraud.

We already know exactly how this administration uses this kind of authority. Earlier this year, it implemented its nationwide Defend the Spend policy requiring States to submit a slew of new data to access childcare funding Congress already appropriated.

States were never required by law to provide this information.

As a result, several States have reported being unable to access funding, and the administration refuses to answer basic questions about how this policy works, who reviews the information submitted by States, and how that data is used. This lack of transparency should alarm every Member of this Chamber.

The administration claims this is necessary to combat widespread fraud in our childcare programs, but it has failed to produce any evidence whatsoever. That tells us everything we need to know. This was never about fraud. It is about President Trump's petty political vendetta against blue States.

I submitted an amendment that would have delayed implementation of H.R. 7726 until the administration finally provides transparency into its defend the spend policy, but Republicans refused to allow a vote. Until we get answers, we should not be expanding President Trump's ability to interfere with childcare funding that families depend on.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 8872, the Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act.

Let me remind us of one of the biggest TANF fraud scandals of all time. Several years ago, former NFL quarterback Brett Favre conspired with Mississippi State officials to steal millions of taxpayer dollars meant for the State's poorest families. He stole this money to build a new volleyball court for his daughter's college.

Why did this happen? It was because under current law, the Federal Government has no authority to conduct oversight into how States spend their TANF block grant funds, which makes up roughly 80 percent of TANF spending.

That is where the biggest oversight gap exists, and this bill before us does nothing about it. Instead, it would require States to only report calculations about over- and underpayments but doesn't investigate fraud itself. By doing this, though, it empowers the administration to use these calculations to justify withholding TANF funds from certain States.

This selective process would only apply to less than 15 percent of total TANF funding. This completely ignores the 80 percent of TANF spending where the fraud is actually occurring. When Republicans brought this bill before the Ways and Means Committee, I offered an amendment to insert into the bill the bill that I had introduced with Congressman Danny Davis, the TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act.

Our bill would finally allow Federal oversight of TANF block grant funding and require States that intentionally misuse TANF funds to direct an equivalent amount toward legitimate assistance for families. Simply put, our bill would actually go after the type of fraud that Republicans claim that they care about.

If my Republican colleagues were truly interested in preventing waste, fraud, and abuse, they would have welcomed my amendment. Instead, they blocked it, but this is no surprise. Their record on fraud speaks for itself.

Donald Trump publicly defended Brett Favre and actually canceled the modest penalty President Biden was able to impose on Mississippi. He is letting everyone off the hook for this blatant fraud, and Republicans in Congress haven't said a word about it.

Not only that. Last Congress, Republicans held a hearing on TANF fraud where they actually apologized to Brett Favre. It was embarrassing, and it was shameful.

For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If House rules would have permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill.

My amendment would remove H.R. 8872's provisions empowering President Trump's continued attacks on struggling families and replace them with provisions that actually fight fraud, and that includes my TANF State Expenditure Integrity Act.

My motion to recommit would also address one of the most brazen acts of public corruption in American history: Trump's $1.8 billion slush fund and his sham settlement.

Madam Speaker, I want to emphasize what happened here. The President of the United States sued his own government and got a settlement allowing him to direct $1.8 billion of taxpayer dollars to political allies and January 6 rioters, the violent criminals who assaulted police officers and attacked our democracy.

After receiving overwhelming bipartisan backlash, the Trump administration is now claiming that it won't move forward with the fund. However, a statement is not law. If the administration truly intends to abandon this corrupt scheme, it should have no objection to Congress permanently prohibiting it.

Even that is only part of the story, because no such settlement and statement has been made regarding plans to withdraw the most egregious, self-serving part of this settlement: the provision granting President Trump, his family, and his businesses total immunity from all government audits and investigations before the DOJ, IRS, or any other government agency or department.

While the administration has retreated from its plan to reward Trump's allies with taxpayer dollars, it is charging ahead with giving Trump, his kids, and his companies lifetime immunity from IRS audits and tax prosecution.

Madam Speaker, my motion to recommit would invalidate in Federal law the entire settlement agreement, including the slush fund and the immunity provision, and it would forever prohibit any similar corrupt fund in the future.

I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of my amendment in the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit.