Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Kent Douglas Wong, who tragically passed away on October 8, 2025.

Mr. Wong dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of workers and immigrants, and his legacy will live on in the institutions he built, the progress he fought for, and the generations of leaders he fostered over his decades of work in California and across the country.

As the director of the UCLA Labor Center for 32 years, Mr. Wong brought it to national prominence as the leading institution for innovative research, advocacy, and leadership development on labor issues. He was instrumental in expanding and renovating a new headquarters for the center near MacArthur Park, which was named after his mentor, nonviolent civil rights leader, Rev. James Lawson, Jr. Under his leadership, the University of California established labor centers at all nine campuses. Mr. Wong also led the establishment of such centers at three universities in Mexico and helped strengthen labor education programs overseas in China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines. Mr. Wong was the founding president of the United Association for Labor Education and a vice president of the California Federation of Teachers. His leadership within such a multitude of institutions demonstrated his lifelong dedication to advancing the rights and empowerment of immigrants and workers.

In 1992, Mr. Wong founded the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), the first and only national organization of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) workers. Under Mr. Wong's leadership, APALA gave AANHPI workers a stronger voice in the labor movement and developed a comprehensive strategy to address the unique challenges that AANHPI communities face nationwide.

As a fifth-generation Chinese American whose grandmothers were stripped of their American citizenship under the Chinese Exclusion Act, Mr. Wong believed every individual, regardless of background, deserves equal rights and the opportunity to succeed. From teaching in UCLA's Asian American Studies and Labor Studies programs to launching Dream Summer, the first paid, national fellowship for undocumented youth, he brought immigrant voices to the heart of labor and education. He authored and co-authored several books teaching lessons of immigrant and labor organizing as well as nonviolent philosophy, including ``Dreams Deported: Immigrant Youth and Families Resist Deportation.''

Mr. Wong was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended the University of California, Berkeley, before earning a law degree and beginning a career fighting for civil and workers' rights. He was the first staff attorney for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which was then known as the Asian Pacific American Legal Center for Southern California, before serving as an attorney for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 660.

Mr. Wong's courage, humility, and unwavering commitment to justice inspired everyone who had the privilege of knowing him, and I was fortunate to count him as a dear friend. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating his life and recognizing his incredible legacy, which will continue to energize the next generation of leaders in the fight for equality and opportunity for all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and commend the Claremont Graduate University on their 100th Anniversary. I include in the Record the following proclamation:

Whereas, in 1925, the Claremont Graduate University was

founded on the belief that higher education holds a vital

role in shaping the future of our nation and in nurturing the

intellectual and ethical foundations upon which our democracy

thrives; and

Whereas, for 100 years, the Claremont Graduate University

has contributed immeasurably to the intellectual, cultural,

and civic life of California, the nation, and the world

through the education of generations of students,

groundbreaking research, and public service; and

Whereas, The Claremont Graduate University has long been a

beacon of intellectual rigor, fostering a diverse and

inclusive academic environment that has produced leaders and

innovators in many fields. The university's commitment to

transdisciplinary education and research has had a profound

impact on society; and

Whereas, The alumni of the Claremont Graduate University

are professionals from diverse cultures and backgrounds who

have gone on to become members of Congress, university

presidents, professors, health researchers, superintendents,

classroom teachers, data analysts, deans, art directors, and

community leaders; and

Whereas, the 100th anniversary of the Claremont Graduate

University is a moment to honor the legacy of its founders,

celebrate a century of achievement, and inspire future

generations to uphold the principles of academic inquiry,

leadership, and service;

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

Chu, representing California's 28th Congressional District,

do hereby recognize and commend the Claremont Graduate

University on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary, and

extend sincere appreciation for their enduring contributions

to the people of California and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate the life of my dear friend and U.S. Army Veteran, Mr. Dave Loera, who passed away on August 16, 2025. Dave was a remarkable man whose entire life was defined by service. He bravely answered the call of duty during the Vietnam War, and when he returned home, he never stopped serving as a leader, a mentor, and an unwavering advocate for his fellow Veterans. As Commander of VFW Post 3208 and later VFW District 11, he fought to ensure that every Veteran received the recognition, respect, and resources they had earned.

In 2016, Dave was instrumental in renaming the Sierra Madre Post Office after World War I hero Louis Van Iersel--a Sierra Madre resident who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for saving 1,000 American soldiers during the Great War. Before this effort, few people knew of Sergeant Van Iersel's story. Knowing that heroes should never be forgotten, Dave brought his persistence and passion to this fight, helping us pass my bill to rename the Post Office, which was signed into law by President Obama. Today, Sergeant Van Iersel's name is forever etched into the heart of Sierra Madre, inspiring future generations with his courage and sacrifice, something that would not have been possible without Dave.

Dave was also instrumental in the fight to establish a Veterans Outpatient Clinic in Arcadia. For far too long, local Veterans were forced to travel far from home just to receive basic care from the VA. Dave refused to accept the status quo and we worked together to bring a VA clinic to the San Gabriel Valley. He attended every meeting, spoke at every town hall, rallied our community, and stood shoulder-to- shoulder with advocates as we pushed the VA to act. Because of his leadership, Veterans in the San Gabriel Valley can finally get the health care they need and deserve close to home.

Dave's record of service touched every corner of his hometown of Sierra Madre, which is why he was honored as Citizen of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce. For ten years, he protected his neighbors as a Reserve Police Officer. He coached youth sports, poured his heart into civic projects like the Fourth of July Parade and improving Dapper Field, and inspired others to give back to their hometown. Dave's dedication to our community reminds us that service is not about recognition, but about lifting every one of our fellow citizens up.

Just last year, I was proud to honor Dave at my Veterans Forum for his decades of service and unwavering leadership. My office could always count on him to help others. Every year we worked with Dave to provide turkeys and toys to underserved families during the holiday season. His life truly embodied service, compassion, and community Dave's legacy will live on in every Veteran who receives care, every young person inspired by his example, and every life touched by his kindness. I will remember him not only as a leader and a Veteran, but as a trusted friend who made our community and our county better.

Dave is survived by his wife, Teri Loera, their children, and a community that mourns his loss and celebrates his legacy of selflessness and kindness. May his memory inspire others to follow in his footsteps and lead a life of generosity and service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and commend The Claremont Colleges on their 100th Anniversary. I include in the Record the following Proclamation:

Whereas, on October 14, 1925, The Claremont Colleges were

founded with the vision of creating a unique consortium of

world-class institutions rooted in academic excellence,

interdisciplinary collaboration, and a shared commitment to

the liberal arts and sciences: and

Whereas, for 100 years, The Claremont Colleges have

contributed immeasurably to the intellectual, cultural, and

civic life of California, the nation, and the world through

the education of generations of students, groundbreaking

research, and public service; and

Whereas, the consortium, comprising five undergraduate

colleges and two graduate institutions, exemplifies the

values of innovation; freedom of thought and expression; a

liberal arts foundation combined with specialized and

practical training; high academic standards; and a diverse

and inclusive community that provides students with broad

academic resources while preserving the intimacy of small

college environments; and

Whereas, The Claremont Colleges have been a vital part of

the Claremont and Southern California region, supporting the

local economy, partnering with civic organizations,

supporting community organizations, and serving as a hub for

cultural enrichment, discourse, and discovery; and

Whereas, the 100th anniversary of The Claremont Colleges is

a moment to honor the legacy of its founders, celebrate a

century of achievement, and inspire future generations to

uphold the principles of academic inquiry, leadership, and

service;

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

Chu, representing California's 28th Congressional District,

do hereby recognize and commend The Claremont Colleges on the

occasion of their 100th Anniversary, and extend sincere

appreciation for their enduring contributions to the people

of California and beyond.

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, I rise in opposition to Republicans' big, ugly bill because of my constituents like Lisa whose son was diagnosed with a life-altering disease that left him unable to work by mid-age. Medicaid enables Lisa to be his full-time caregiver and ensures that he has the care he needs.

Unfortunately, for Lisa and her son, Republicans don't care. They made it very clear over the past 6 months who they are fighting for. It is not for the most vulnerable like Lisa and her son, who may be 2 of the 17 million Americans kicked off their healthcare thanks to this bill. Instead, Republicans are fighting for billionaires like Donald Trump and the top 0.1 percent who will get an average tax cut of $309,000 per year, while those earning less than $50,000 get 68 cents a day.

To my Republican colleagues, there is still time to join Democrats in preventing this despicable bill from becoming law.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this extremely partisan resolution that seeks to legitimize President Trump's baseless attacks on Los Angeles and our elected leaders, including Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass.

This administration's mass ICE raids by masked agents who will not identify themselves have trampled on our rights and left our community shaken but not defeated.

The President manufactured a crisis in Los Angeles and then blamed our constituents for it. He induced ICE to terrorize our community, detaining hundreds of hardworking residents at places like Home Depot and car washes, including U.S. citizens like Job Garcia, a doctoral student in my district at Claremont Graduate University. He was manhandled, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed.

For this, the President called in the National Guard and Marines?

This resolution only gives credence to Trump's dangerous rhetoric. Instead, we should be considering the resolution introduced by California's Democratic delegation, which condemns anyone engaged in violation of the law, violence, or vandalism. Most importantly, it stands up for our constitutional rights to due process and free expression and shows our appreciation to local law enforcement for upholding public safety.

Rather than feed into the President's cruelty, we are standing up for the communities we were elected to represent.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Mel McMullen of California on the occasion of his 100th birthday and in recognition of his extraordinary service during the Second World War.

Born in Los Angeles on June 5, 1925, Mr. McMullen answered his country's call to service at the age of 17, Joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. By 1944, he was serving in the China-Burma-India Theater as a nose turret gunner and assistant engineer aboard a B-24J bomber named The Dragon Lady, as part of General Claire Chennault's famed 14th Air Force, the ``Flying Tigers.'' The legacy of the Flying Tigers is truly inspiring because it was made up of young men like Mr. McMullen who left their jobs to volunteer alongside the Chinese in defense of China, even before the U.S. officially entered the war against Japan. Despite not being an official part of the U.S. military, they were willing to risk their lives in the pursuit of peace. The Flying Tigers' achievements were truly extraordinary--operating with only a few dozen planes and a few hundred soldiers, they managed to bring down hundreds of Imperial Japanese aircraft, a testament to their bravery and skill.

McMullen was assigned to the 425th Squadron of the 308th Bomb Group, flying long and dangerous missions across eastern China against Japanese forces. His squadron endured perilous flights over mountainous terrain, unescorted bombing runs under heavy anti-aircraft fire, and grueling conditions that tested their endurance and courage Mr. McMullen survived over 200 hours of aerial combat, a feat for which he was awarded both the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

After the Flying Tigers were disbanded, Mr. McMullen continued serving in World War II by flying hazardous fuel transport missions over ``The Hump'' from India to China, a route so treacherous it was known as ``The Aluminum Trail'' for the wreckage of downed aircraft. This was a vital air transport lifeline for the Allies and Mr. McMullen's service reflects not only immense bravery but a profound commitment to his fellow airmen and to the mission of liberating Asia from imperial oppression.

Beyond the battlefield, Mr. McMullen's life has remained a testament to leadership, service, and community. He served as National Commander of the China-Burma-India Veterans Association and as President of the Inland Empire Chapter of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society. He built a 43-year career in the title insurance industry and has been a devoted husband to his wife Jennifer for over 77 years. Together, they raised a family in Los Angeles and now enjoy the love of their grandchildren and a community they continue to serve.

Mr. Speaker, Mel McMullen embodies the best of the American spirit: courage in the face of war, resilience in peacetime, and a life of meaning rooted in family and service. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I offer my congratulations on his 100th birthday and thank him for his tremendous sacrifices in defense of our freedoms. May his story continue to inspire future generations to serve with honor, humility, and purpose.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2987, the CEASE Act, because it has the potential to harm our Nation's most underserved small businesses.

This bill would cap the number of Small Business Lending Company, or SBLC, licenses that the SBA can issue at its current level of 16 licenses. These licenses enable lenders to make loans of up to $5 million to small businesses that we know often struggle to secure financing from traditional banks.

If Republicans wanted to find a solution to bipartisan concerns about SBA's capacity to oversee an increased number of licenses, Democrats would have been happy to work together on this. Unfortunately, this bill fails to address our serious concerns about how it could devastate opportunities for capital access for the small businesses that need SBA's help the most.

Specifically, this bill is completely silent about how this cap on licenses would impact Community Advantage SBLCs. We know that one of small businesses' greatest challenges is obtaining access to financial capital. For over a decade now, the Community Advantage program has been helping close this funding gap for underserved businesses who face this challenge disproportionately like rural, veteran, and low-income small business owners.

I will never forget visiting one of these businesses in Santa Monica, California. It was a salad-based restaurant owned by two young Hispanic men who had this dream of expanding their restaurant, but they were turned away by every traditional bank due to a lack of assets and credit history. Finally, they were able to get a $250,000 Community Advantage loan, and now they have six of these restaurants.

It was a relatively modest sum, but $250,000 was what it took to make these small business owners successful, and that is why I have long believed in the Community Advantage program. However, it was operating only as a pilot program, and that is why I sponsored a bill to make it permanent. This bipartisan bill has passed out of the House, but the Senate did not take it up.

Great relief, however, came in 2023 when the SBA established by rule the Community Advantage SBLC program

to provide long-term assurance for the program and lenders. Since then, there has been great progress: 143 lenders have registered as Community Advantage SBLCs. In 2024 alone, these lenders have already issued 1,100 loans totaling $196 million to the most underserved small businesses with an average loan size of $160,000.

Congress needs to build on these efforts by providing statutory permanency for Community Advantage, but the bill before us today goes in the opposite direction, potentially threatening the future of Community Advantage SBLCs because it makes no mention of how these licenses would be impacted by the statutory cap.

Congress must ensure that our most underserved small businesses have the resources they need to not just survive but to grow. That is why I will reintroduce the Community Advantage Loan Program Act, which will give permanent authorization to this program.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support our Nation's veteran, rural, and low-income entrepreneurs by voting ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, as chair emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I rise to honor Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a celebration of the rich history, immense contributions, and vibrant cultures of our community.

I am proud to represent California's 28th District and the San Gabriel Valley, home to the fourth largest AANHPI population in the country.

AANHPIs are the fastest growing racial or ethnic group nationwide. With 23.5 million people and over 70 different ethnicities and hundreds of languages, we are also one of the most diverse groups in the Nation.

America has always been made stronger by the contributions of our communities whose histories and cultures are deeply woven into the fabric of our Nation.

This month and every month, we must highlight how AANHPI history truly is American history.

I wish everyone a happy AANHPI heritage month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Republicans' unbelievably ugly bill. This bill is worse than we thought.

By ripping Medicaid and food assistance away from many millions of vulnerable Americans while slashing taxes for the ultrawealthy, the nonpartisan CBO found that it would make the poorest 10 percent poorer while making the richest 10 percent richer.

This bill would also increase the debt so much that it will trigger cuts to Medicare benefits by almost $500 billion.

To my Republican colleagues: Think of my constituent, Maria. Maria needs Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security to care for her daughter who resides in a nursing home, uses a feeding tube to eat, and can't recognize her mother.

Maria asked: If Medicaid is cut, where would my daughter go?

Tax cuts for the wealthiest at the expense of Maria's daughter getting the care she needs to survive is despicable.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the GOP tax scam, which would gut the programs that families rely on, like Medicaid and SNAP, just to give trillions in tax breaks to the wealthy.

In my district, more than 208,000 people rely on Medicaid, and 75,000 people rely on SNAP. They include women like Nancy from Pasadena, California.

Nancy has stage V kidney failure. She relies on Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security to keep a roof over her head, food on her table, and continue her treatment. She is scared to death about losing these.

Nancy asked me to tell my Republican colleagues that one day, they or their loved one might need the resources that they are fighting so hard to slash.

Do not take food literally out of the mouths of babies just so Elon Musk can buy another yacht. Nancy deserves better. All of our constituents deserve better, and House Democrats are here to fight back against this cruelty.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 881. This bill would block Department of Homeland Security funding from colleges and universities with a Confucius Institute, which is known to have CCP ties, but it expands the prohibition to any institution that has a relationship with a Chinese entity of concern.

What is a Chinese entity of concern? Because a bill defines such entities so broadly, that list could potentially include every single college in China.

Because this is a new definition that is not shared with any other Federal agency, universities would be required to independently verify that their Chinese counterpart institutions do not meet this broad definition just to cooperate on activities as simple as study abroad programs. The University of California has said they do not have an intelligence agency within their structure that can do this.

This is a completely unreasonable expectation of universities, and that is because the real goal of the legislation is to completely sever academic relations with institutions in China.

Ending study abroad programs, student exchanges, and every research agreement will do nothing to make America safer. In fact, the only improvement that this bill makes over the version that Republicans advanced last year is giving the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to grant waivers. That means universities are expected to ask for a waiver from the same administration that is continually threatening their Federal funding and their tax-exempt status.

This is a harmful bill that would only serve to weaken America and give the Trump administration yet another weapon to attack the American institutions that they deem are insufficiently loyal to President Trump.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, on May 5, 2025, I was unable to cast my vote on H.R. 530--ACES Act. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call Vote No. 115.

Mr. Speaker, this administration has thrown out the Constitution and asserted that the President has king-like power to arrest anybody in this country and deport them, even to a foreign prison for life, with no due process.

Days ago, we learned they deported a 4-year-old child with stage IV cancer and a 2-year-old American citizen.

We know that they are now going after Southeast Asian refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. They came here due to the U.S. depending on them as allies during the Vietnam war.

This was the case with Chanthon Bun, who fled to the U.S. with his family to escape the Cambodian genocide. Like many refugees, Bun found himself in an impoverished community and struggled to acclimate. He later fell in with the wrong crowd and made a mistake as a teenager. Bun has since served his time, and once granted parole, he has become a leader in his community.

In Trump's eyes, Bun's rehabilitation doesn't matter. Trump is now detaining and deporting Southeast Asian refugees who have had pauses on their deportation orders for decades and are deeply tied to their communities. Mr. Speaker, 15,000 of these refugees have deportation orders and are now being deported as they do the right thing and report for their ICE check-ins.

We will not stand for it. I will soon be reintroducing the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act, which would prevent the administration from deporting these refugees to countries where they have often never lived and ensure that those who have already been deported can return home to the U.S.

If the Trump administration can disappear immigrants to other countries without due process or deport refugees to places they have no memories of, we are all in danger.