Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak out against another outrageous move by Donald Trump: his attack on the National Institutes of Health.

The NIH is not just another governmental agency, it is the foundation of America's medical research. It funds lifesaving breakthroughs that doctors and scientists rely on to treat and cure diseases. It supports the work that helps us fight cancer, Alzheimer's, heart disease, diabetes, and rare genetic disorders. It fuels innovation that leads to better treatment, more effective medications, and new medical technologies. Yet, Donald Trump and the Republicans in this building want to gut it.

Trump has proposed slashing billions of dollars from the NIH budget, which would cripple research, stall medical progress, and put American lives at risk. These cuts would mean fewer clinical trials, new treatments and advances in the fights against the diseases that impact millions of Americans. Every person in this country, every patient battling illness, every doctor searching for answers, and every family hoping for a cure would feel the consequences of these disastrous cuts.

Let's be clear about what is at stake. The NIH funds over 300,000 researchers across the country, supporting studies that have led to some of the most important medical breakthroughs in history. This funding helped develop treatments that have increased cancer survival rates, improved heart disease prevention, and even led to vaccines that protect us from deadly viruses. It is responsible for nearly every major medical advancement of the last century.

These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are a direct threat to American lives and health. If Trump and Republicans succeed in slashing NIH funding, it means that crucial research into diseases like Parkinson's, ALS, and multiple sclerosis will be delayed or abandoned altogether. It means that hospitals and research centers will struggle to continue their work. It means that the next big breakthrough, the next cure, the next lifesaving drug, the next medical innovation that can save each one of our families and your family could be lost forever.

For Texas, the consequences would be severe. In 2023 alone, the NIH invested over $1.5 billion into Texas research institutions. This funding supports critical work at UT Southwestern in Dallas, where scientists are pioneering new cancer treatments; at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where researchers are leading the fight against Alzheimer's and heart disease; and at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M, where cutting-edge biomedical research is shaping the future of medicine. If Trump's cuts go through, these institutions will lose the funding they need to continue their vital work.

This attack on the NIH is part of a larger pattern. This is the same Donald Trump leading an administration that rejects science. He is threatening all of our health. He downplayed COVID-19, costing hundreds of thousands of American lives. He ignored public health experts and spread antiscience conspiracy theories while hospitals were overrun with dying patients. Trump already tried to cut NIH funding before, only to be stopped by a Democratic Congress. This time he is taking direct aim at the very institution that helps doctors and scientists find cures, save lives, and protect public health.

We cannot afford to let this happen. We must fight back. If we care about our families, health, and future, we must reject these reckless cuts and demand more funding for NIH, not less. The research being conducted today will determine the treatments available tomorrow, and the investment we make in science now will save lives for generations to come.

This is not a partisan issue. Well, rather, it should not be a partisan issue. Disease does not care whether you are a Republican or a Democrat. Cancer doesn't check your voter registration. Alzheimer's doesn't ask where you fall on the ideological spectrum. This is about protecting the health of every single American.

I urge my colleagues in Congress and every American listening to stand up for science, stand up for medical research, stand up for the NIH. The health of all of our families could depend on it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition today to the Republicans' voter suppression act. This bill is not about election integrity. This is not about ensuring that only citizens vote. This is about making it impossible for people and new voters to vote.

Mr. Speaker, this has played out in Texas and other jurisdictions across the country. Yet, in 2021, Texas has led the Nation in voter suppression, rejecting nearly 13 percent of mail-in ballots. Texas rejected nearly 13 percent of ballots cast by rightful citizens of this country, people who are being disfranchised for exercising their right to vote.

The Republicans are really using this patriotic chest-beating moment of voting in an attempt to make it difficult for people of color, for seniors, for veterans, for persons with disabilities to be able to go and cast their vote.

I filed three amendments to make this bill better that were all rejected by the Republicans, one of which would have made it possible to provide documentation of citizenship through online means, to register online. There are millions of people in this country who cannot physically get to a polling place. There are men and women in our service branches who are stationed abroad who cannot physically get back to their polling place in their jurisdiction to register to vote.

We are basically telling these citizens of this country that their votes don't count. We don't care if they can vote. We don't care how hard it is, and we are going to make it impossible for them to vote.

Republicans categorically rejected that amendment.

Mr. Speaker, what about the accountability for making sure that election officials don't screw up and tell a citizen of this country that they don't get to vote? Where is the right to cure? I filed an amendment that would have said that, if citizens were wrongfully denied the right to vote, they would have 24 hours to get a hearing to have a judge take a look at it to prove that the election clerk got it wrong and that they are an American citizen and deserve to be able to cast their ballot.

Republicans categorically rejected that. It is an atrocity on the American public, and it is an atrocity for citizens who are trying to duly cast their vote.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the incredible legacy of Annise Parker, a trailblazer, a fearless advocate, and a champion for LGBTQ rights in Texas and across the Nation.

As the first openly LGBTQ mayor of a major American city, Houston, Annise shattered barriers and showed millions of people that LGBTQ Americans belong in government and in every part of public life.

Her work wasn't just about representation. It was about action. She fought for equality, fairness, and for a Texas where everyone, no matter who they love, has the opportunity to thrive.

Through her leadership at the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, she helped elect and empower leaders at every level of government. It is because of Annise's leadership that the next generation of LGBTQ Americans have more seats at the table, more voices in the conversation, and more hope for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Annise for her service, her courage, and her unwavering commitment to justice. Texas and our Nation are better because of her.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize that most Americans are not economists, trade experts, or well versed in the intricacies of tax policy. If you will, I want to take this opportunity to sort of ``Schoolhouse Rock'' tariffs. Let's talk about what they are, how they work, and how they impact Americans and their families.

Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, plain and simple. When the government slaps a tariff on a product, it makes the product more expensive to buy from other countries.

Take your sneakers. Most sneakers are made with rubber, synthetic fabrics, and leather, stuff that gets imported from China and other places. Let's say the government puts a tariff on those materials. That is an extra included tax on materials that make up the sneakers.

Now these products become more expensive to make, and the way that companies make up for that is passing that cost on to the consumer. A pair of sneakers that cost $30 might now cost $50 after tariffs are imposed. You now have to work more to get more money and then pay more for the same exact pair of sneakers.

The idea of tariffs is to protect American businesses and jobs. The reality, though, is, as you can see with the sneaker example, it often backfires. Other countries hit back with their own tariffs, hurting American manufacturers and workers.

Now, are tariffs always bad? The answer is no. When used correctly, tariffs can be a powerful tool. They can protect American jobs, boost key industries, and stop countries like China from flooding our market with cheap, low-quality goods.

When a country imposes tariffs strategically on industries we need to rebuild, like steel and manufacturing and technology, we can give American businesses the breathing room to compete and grow. When foreign countries play dirty with unfair trade practices, tariffs can be a productive way to respond to that.

Here is the key: Tariffs have to be smart. When used correctly, tariffs can defend American industry. When used incorrectly, though, they are just another tax on working people. Right now, the Trump administration is using tariffs in the wrong way, and their actions are causing costs to skyrocket for families in Texas and all American families.

To be clear, Trump's tariffs on Canada and Mexico are nothing but a tax on American businesses and consumers. They are two of our biggest trading partners. For example, Mexico is Texas' largest trading partner, accounting for one-third of our State's exports. In 2023, trade between Texas and Mexico totaled more than $272 billion. We trade so many products with our neighbors to the south that families in Texas use every day, like tomatoes, greens, avocados, car parts, electronics, plastics, and the list goes on. With Canada, Texas buys steel and lumber to build homes to ensure families have a roof over their heads.

All of these products will have higher costs, and the only ones who will pay more are the families and businesses that buy them. Instead of strengthening those relationships with our neighbors, Trump's tariffs are making everything more expensive for us.

What do we get in return? Absolutely nothing. American companies didn't suddenly stop buying from Canada or Mexico. They just have to pay more to do it. Meanwhile, those countries have hit back with their own tariffs, hurting Americans across the board. Instead of using tariffs for smart trade policy, Trump is using them as a political stunt that punishes the very people it claims to help.

Madam Speaker, these tariffs are self-inflicted wounds on the American economy. We see this every day in the stock market with the market value falling by trillions of dollars over the past few weeks. Those in their twenties, thirties, and forties have lost tons of money in their 401(k).

I should also mention something else because I know there is something more sinister going on. Right now, we have Elon Musk in the White House. He has been our president since January 20, calling all the shots and using President Trump as his puppet.

These tariffs will benefit his businesses because they are being imposed on Elon's competition. This is a clear conflict of interest. It is wrong, and it is a display of the grift and the greed that the Trump administration has ushered into this White House.

None of this is about helping American families. None of this is about lowering costs. This is about Trump and Musk settling scores, causing chaos, and making sure they line their pockets on the backs of Americans and the middle class.

Madam Speaker, we need to end these reckless tariffs and get back to lowering costs for the people we serve.

Madam Speaker, the House is soon going to vote on some legislation that guts Medicaid and it slashes healthcare for veterans. It cuts funding from important infrastructure projects and takes food away from families struggling to survive.

We have a choice: We can invest in the people we serve, or we can let Republicans burn it down.

I am fighting for $2 million to help our Dallas Police Officers tackle violent crime, gangs, and drug trafficking. I am working to secure over $1 million to upgrade security at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport because keeping Americans safe should not be up for debate.

We can fund these programs, but instead of trying to make government work, Republicans are doing everything they can to break it, stripping away services that millions of people rely on.

I will not vote for a bill that carries out Trump's mission to dismantle our government. I will not vote for a bill that takes healthcare, food, and security from the people who need it most, especially as they work to line the pockets of Trump and his friends on the backs of hardworking Americans.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleague to do what is right and vote ``no'' on this bill. Let's stand up for the people who sent us here.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from California (Mr. Garamendi) for hosting this Special Order hour on this very important topic.

Last night, 217 Republicans voted to gut Texas Medicaid, raise costs, and take away healthcare from over 100,000 of my constituents, including over 80,000 children and over 12,000 seniors just in my district.

I love my State. There are so many great things about Texas, but unfortunately, we are number one in some of the worst ways.

Texas leads the Nation in the number of people without health insurance--for children and adults. We lead the Nation in maternal mortality, having the highest number of mothers die during childbirth. We lead the Nation in infant mortality.

Over 4.8 million Texans currently rely on Medicaid, over 16 percent of our State. These are not just statistics to gloss over, but they are children, moms, seniors, and our loved ones in nursing homes.

The Republican-endorsed cuts will exacerbate Texas' healthcare crisis, creating irresponsible, political-based policy instead of collaborating for real solutions.

In addition to the loss of healthcare access, many of those still with coverage will see their costs skyrocket.

Under the Republican budget they voted for just last night, the average premium for 103,000 people who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act in my district will increase by 69 percent. Let me say that again. Their premiums will increase by 69 percent because of what the Republicans have done in this budget.

Many families would face even steeper consequences. In Texas-32, a 60-year-old couple with a household income of $85,000 would see their health insurance premiums increase by $13,000 a year. That is a 181 percent increase in just 1 year. Families cannot afford that.

Mr. Speaker, I am all for cutting waste and finding fraud and abuse, but taking away healthcare and making it unaffordable for the people of Texas is not the way to do it.

Texas Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security programs must be protected. They represent our commitment to the American people that their government will be there to help them when they are at their most vulnerable.

The fact is that these cuts will mean life-altering changes for families across America and will lead to nursing homes being closed, doctors refusing to care for patients, healthcare claims being denied, and more debt and increased costs on the backs of families who are already struggling to make ends meet.

I will ask this question to my Republican colleagues: Are you ready to take in your aging parents to care for them when your local nursing homes close? Are you ready to move your dining room table out and bring in a hospital bed because there is not a long-term care facility to take care of them?

We have already lost 27 rural hospitals in Texas because of a lack of adequate Medicaid funding. It takes some people in our State 3 to 4 hours just to get to a cardiologist after they have a heart attack--and do you know what? They are dead.

This has real consequences for people when we don't have adequate healthcare. This should not be a partisan issue. It doesn't matter if you are a Republican or Democrat. When your mom is sick, you want them to have healthcare. When your baby breaks their arm, you want them to have healthcare. This is a universal human issue, and it is irresponsible what the Republicans have done in this budget.

I am proud to stand with my Democratic colleagues as we fight against these devastating cuts, and I encourage my Republican colleagues to join us because their constituents want healthcare, too. Everyone does.

Mr. Speaker, I am committed to finding ways to improve healthcare and make it more reliable and affordable. That is what Texas families want. That is what the American people want.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California for the purposes of a colloquy.

Sure. I am Julie Johnson. I represent Texas-32. I am from Dallas, Texas.

It is an urban district with a lot of suburban areas. We have access to great hospital care there. However, we still have healthcare deserts. We have people who can't afford health insurance at the current skyrocketing prices that they are. We have very high housing costs. We have people with very high student loan debt.

If you are a 32-year-old trying to live the American Dream and trying to buy your first house or afford your student loan, you can't do it all.

Do you know what the minimum wage is in Texas? $7.75 an hour. You are trying to do the best you can. You are working at the grocery store, doing things that make our economy run, working in retail, but you are making $7.75 an hour.

You can't afford health insurance that costs you $24,000 a year when you don't even make that, and that is the problem with where we are.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 43.

Mr. Speaker, I want my neighbors back home to know that, like you, I am angry and I am furious about the constitutional crisis caused by the Trump administration.

They are handing over our data and private information to people who should not have access to it. They are firing patriotic civil servants. They are purging FBI agents, and they are trying to eliminate agencies like the USAID. All of this is unconstitutional.

We must protect the American people and our allies from this coup. To the Republicans in this House, it is time for you to stand up and speak out. You know what is wrong. You know this will jeopardize the lives of your own constituents, as well as mine. Yet you do nothing.

Lawsuits have been filed. We are introducing bills. We are taking action to keep Americans safe and support our Constitution. We need you at home to stay mad, talk to your neighbors, and organize against what they are doing

This is not what the American people voted for. This is your government, and that is what Democrats are fighting to restore.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Republican reproductive healthcare surveillance act. I am from Texas. The last thing any Texan wants is the government telling doctors or women what they can or cannot do with their bodies. That is exactly what this bill does.

I was in Texas in the State legislature when Texas Republicans wanted to pass this same bill. They wanted to use Big Government to reach into doctors' offices and make personal healthcare decisions on behalf of women in my State. These are complex medical issues, and no politician should interfere in the lives of women and their families.

Doctors have medical training. Politicians don't. We must protect the doctor-patient relationship. Simply put, Republicans should not have a seat at the table in a doctor's office. It amazes me that my colleagues in the so-called party of small government continue to put forth bills that seek to control women, families, and doctors.

I will always make sure women and families have the tools they need to make their own healthcare-related decisions. This misguided bill endangers the lives of women, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to serve Texas' 32nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives for the 119th Congress.

As a Texas-educated attorney for over 30 years, I know what it takes to fight for those who need it most. Throughout my career, I have stood up for workers, those living with disabilities, students who are being taken advantage of by for-profit colleges, and so many of my fellow Texans who needed someone fighting alongside them.

I took those skills to the Texas State legislature where I fought for Medicaid expansion, a fair judicial court system, consumer protections, and for women to make their own healthcare decisions free from government intrusion.

When extremists decided to target the LGBTQ community in Texas, I raised my voice and helped kill hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills that would have hurt the members of my community and their families.

As the trusted voice for Texas' 32nd Congressional District in Congress, I am ready to deliver real results for my neighbors. That means working to lower costs across the board; support and expand infrastructure for the fastest growing metroplex in the country; secure our southern border; and make healthcare safe, affordable, and reliable for all Americans.

My home State of Texas plays a huge role in powering our Nation and our world. We have a massive economy that supports millions of jobs, and we are Mexico's largest trading partner.

Texas also has the largest border with our neighbor to the south, and it will be up to Texas and Texas Democrats to provide meaningful solutions to the problems that we face. I am ready to lead on these important issues.

I am thrilled I will be serving on three committees this Congress that will help me deliver these results to make life better for Texas' businesses, middle-class families, and our seniors.

On the House Homeland Security Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee, I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to keep our Nation safe and to strengthen our alliances around the world.

On the House Administration Committee, I will work tirelessly to protect the people's right to vote and to make sure this institution, the people's House, functions in a way that is better for Texans and all of our Nation's citizens.

Let me be clear: The work begins right now.

In Congress, I am committed to rising above the division and coming up with bipartisan solutions to solve our Nation's biggest problems. I will work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, who is willing to come together, put partisanship aside, and to make life better for the people that we all serve.

I want my constituents to know how grateful I am to have this opportunity, and I wake up every day with the mission and the purpose to serve them in this Chamber. I thank them so much, and I want them to know that I will always have their back here in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 8.