Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1065.

As a working mother who has two beautiful children, I support reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers. Many of the provisions in the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act are admirable. However, it is equally important to protect First Amendment rights of our religious organizations, hospitals, and schools, including those located in the Fifth District of Louisiana.

Under this bill, organizations could be forced to make employment- related decisions that conflict with their faith and sacrifice their religious rights. For example, a faith-based employer could be deemed in violation of this bill if it does not accommodate an employee's request for paid time off to undergo an abortion.

Also, if signed into law, this bill allows an independent and uncontrollable Federal agency to make additional rules and regulations that could further erode religious liberties. It leaves decisionmaking in the hands of unelected government bureaucrats.

Therefore, Congress must include a religious freedom exemption in the base text of this bill. When it comes to religious freedom and pro-life issues, we should not allow bureaucrats and potentially the judicial system to make decisions by reading between the lines. We must send a clear message that religious freedom is nonnegotiable.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National Police Week to honor the 394 law enforcement officers whose names have been forever engraved into the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial here in Washington, D.C.

I am honored to join Congressman Michael Guest and 90 of my Republican colleagues in introducing a resolution to recognize these brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. The surviving families of these officers are now left to walk through the unimaginable path of pain and loss. My prayers are with them every day as they grieve for their loved ones.

My district and State, like so many of my colleagues, did not escape loss. Fifteen law enforcement officers from Louisiana were killed in the line of duty in 2020, including four from the Fifth Congressional District:

Kejuana Artez Bates with the Vidalia Police Department;

Kietrell Michael Pitts with the Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office;

Randy Michael Vallot with the Richland Parish Sheriff's Office; and

Marshal Lee Walter, Jr., with the Mangham Police Department.

These officers swore an oath to uphold the public trust. We remember them not just today or this week, but for years to come. We thank all law enforcement officers and their families for their sacrifice, and ask God to bless each and every one of you.

The people of our country are forever grateful.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 110.

Members Recorded Pursuant to House Resolution 8, 117th Congress

Allred (Wexton)

Babin (Fallon)

Cardenas (Gonzalez, Vicente)

Cole (Lucas)

Crenshaw (Fallon)

Gallego (Gomez)

Graves (MO) (Wagner)

Greene (GA) (Gosar)

Grijalva (Garcia (IL))

Jayapal (Raskin)

Johnson (TX) (Jeffries)

Keating (Clark (MA))

Lawson (FL) (Evans)

Lieu (Beyer)

Lowenthal (Beyer)

McHenry (Banks)

Meng (Clark (MA))

Mfume (Raskin)

Moore (WI) (Beyer)

Moulton (Underwood)

Napolitano (Correa)

Neal (Lynch)

Nehls (Fallon)

Norcross (Pallone)

Omar (Pressley)

Payne (Pallone)

Porter (Wexton)

Rush (Underwood)

Sewell (DelBene)

Slotkin (Stevens)

Stefanik (Tenney)

Steube (Timmons)

Trahan (Lynch)

Wasserman Schultz (Soto)

Watson Coleman (Pallone)

Wilson (FL) (Hayes)

Wilson (SC) (Timmons)

Madam Speaker, it is an honor and a privilege to stand here today as the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Louisiana.

Representing the people of the Fifth Congressional District is a great responsibility, and I pledge to work hard for you in Congress.

My district is blessed with some of the best resources in the Nation, and no one knew that better than my husband, Luke, who was elected to this very seat but who we lost to COVID just days before he was set to take office.

Luke and I were a team with a goal to better our State and our country. I want to thank him for paving the way for me. I am here today to carry that torch forward, to be a voice for our farmers, to champion education, to help bring broadband to our rural communities, and to ensure our economy is thriving again.

The last year has not been easy for our country. Too many families, like mine, have experienced tragedy because of this pandemic. To those families, I see you, I hear you, and most importantly, I pray with you.

I want to thank my family, both the Letlows and the Barnhills, for being the rock-solid, godly people you are in my life.

I also cannot thank my staff, the Louisiana delegation, and my congressional colleagues enough for guiding me and welcoming me so fully. And I thank everyone who has reached out and prayed for my family these past few months.

Today, as I start my journey in Congress, I choose hope. I want to be part of a revival of honesty, integrity, and hard work within these hallowed Halls. I will stand up for what is right and true, bringing hope of a better tomorrow for my children and for yours.