Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 7, a bipartisan resolution supporting the brave women and men peacefully protesting for their rights and freedom in Iran.

Fundamental human rights are under attack in Iran. It has been nearly 4 months since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's so-called morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf incorrectly.

Since then, thousands of Iranians have peacefully protested the regime, calling for their basic rights and freedoms to be respected. Young women and girls have been horribly beaten for protesting a repressive, authoritarian government that controls how they dress and act in public.

In response to these demonstrations, Iran's security forces have reportedly used live ammunition and tear gas against the protesters, and horrifically, have killed more than 500 people, including at least 70 children.

It is clear Iran has no problem sentencing their own people to death simply for joining demonstrations. They are willing to do almost anything to maintain their grip and control.

The United States must stand unified against the oppressive Iranian regime and stand up for the Iranian people, whose basic human rights are being violated. The Iranian people deserve justice and accountability.

That is why I recently led a bipartisan letter, with my friend and colleague, Joe Wilson, calling for the United Nations to take urgent action to hold Iran accountable for its human rights abuses. Following our bipartisan effort, I was glad that the U.S. and 43 other countries supported our call for a U.N. special session on Iran.

At that special session, the U.N. Human Rights Council voted to establish an independent investigative mechanism into Iran's brutal use of force and grave human rights abuses.

Today, the bipartisan resolution we are all voting on will also help shine a light on Iran's human rights abuses. It makes clear that the United States stands with the people of Iran, that we are watching closely, and that all Iranians, including young women and girls, are entitled to the same human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I am voting ``yes'' on this resolution today, and I encourage all my colleagues to join with me.

Offered By: Ms. Manning

Amendment No. 27: Page 2, line 16, strike ``including'' and

insert ``not including''.

Offered By: Ms. Manning

Amendment No. 28: Page 3, line 5, strike ``10'' and insert

``1''.

Madam Speaker, last November the American people delivered a clear message: Women want the right to make their own reproductive decisions.

My Republican colleagues must have missed that message because they just passed a bill that inserts politics into private family decisions.

That bill is an attempt to create a false and gruesome narrative to interfere with a doctor's care for her patients and to falsely suggest that doctors don't already have a legal obligation to provide the best possible care for their patients.

This fearmongering is dangerous. It could leave doctors fearful of providing the best care for patients who are facing devastating circumstances. It could cause further pain to families facing the heartbreak of a fetus with a fatal abnormality.

The real aim of this bill is to vilify and punish women and their doctors.

I voted ``no'' on H.R. 26. I will continue to stand up for women's reproductive rights.

Madam Speaker, the midterm elections delivered a strong message to the GOP: Politicians should keep their hands off women's reproductive decisions.

Voters in California, Michigan, and Vermont enshrined abortion access into their State constitutions, and Kentucky voters rejected a ballot measure threatening abortion protections.

Postelection polls show a majority of voters want to see Congress protect abortion rights. But regardless of how unpopular their views, Republicans in Congress doubled down on their attacks on women's bodies.

We know it is going to be an uphill battle to codify Roe, and House Republicans made it clear they won't stop with banning abortion. Last July, 193 House Republicans voted against my bill to protect the right to birth control, a measure 95 percent of voters agree with.

The right to abortion and to birth control are critical issues for the American people. So, I ask my colleagues across the aisle: Why aren't they critical to you?

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bipartisan Speak Out Act.

One in three women in our country experiences sexual harassment in the workplace at some point in her career. This appalling behavior is unacceptable, but it will not stop if survivors are silenced.

Let me be clear: any person who experiences sexual assault in the workplace or otherwise should be able to speak out and seek justice.

NDAs and nondisparagement clauses have been used for far too long to silence survivors of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace and instead shield abusers and the companies that enable them. The Speak Out Act helps to fix this flawed system and restores survivors' voices.

Contrary to some of the comments made by my colleagues across the aisle, this is a reasonable act that explicitly protects trade secrets and other proprietary information. It is carefully designed to remove the protection of predators. That is something we should all be in favor of.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues across the aisle to join me in supporting this critically important legislation so that those who wish to do so can hold perpetrators accountable and share their stories. This is something that should be important to all of us.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to share my appreciation for local law enforcement officers in my community and across the country.

I recognize the sacrifices these brave men and women make every day to keep our communities safe, but words of praise and gratitude are never enough. I am proud to say I have backed up my words with action.

Last week, I voted to pass a package of bills that support our police officers and increase public safety. Investing in our officers is critical to protecting our communities.

We can increase public safety by ensuring that law enforcement agencies are well trained to de-escalate dangerous situations, respond to mental health and domestic violence emergencies properly, and make sure that the right channels are in place to uphold justice for all.

That is why I voted to pass the Invest to Protect Act. This legislation will provide Federal grants to smaller law enforcement agencies like those in my district to recruit, retain, and train good, accountable officers.

To the police officers and first responders in my community: Thank you for the work you do to protect North Carolina's Sixth District.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Malinowski, for yielding. I thank Chairman Meeks for his leadership in advancing this legislation to the floor, and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), my friend, for partnering with me on this important bill.

I rise today in support of my Securing Global Telecommunications Act, a bipartisan bill I introduced to help combat China's attempts to dominate the next generation of critical technology.

Mr. Speaker, many of the products we use every day are connected to telecommunications networks, and they rely on a nearly invisible set of internationally agreed-upon standards.

Our strategic competitors, Russia and China, want to gain an unfair advantage over these critical areas. They are determined to set the rules of the road for the next generation of critical technologies like 5G and AI. They are relentless in their efforts to provide their own companies, like Huawei and ZTE, with an unfair advantage while shutting out all competitors.

This effort is not just about helping their businesses win. This is about controlling a key strategic domain, which poses serious risks and consequences for the U.S. and global security. That is because the PRC has demonstrated its willingness to abuse technology to steal data, conduct surveillance, and invade privacy, all to further its geopolitical agenda and bolster its model of a closed, authoritarian system of governance.

The United States and our allies must work together to counter this threat. We need to develop and deploy more secure and better trusted tech and telecommunications infrastructure.

My bipartisan bill will help do just that.

First, the bill will require a comprehensive strategy for securing global telecommunications infrastructure worldwide, incorporating mobile networks, data centers, and emerging technologies like LEO satellites and 6G.

We can't afford to be complacent about this challenge. We must have a cohesive strategy to address this issue.

This bill will also help crack down on Russia's and China's malign influence at the International Telecommunication Union, or ITU--a little-known but incredibly important U.N. organization that could determine the standards behind the future of the digital world. It is vital that America and allied countries are in the room at the table and leading the charge to set next-generation technology standards.

Finally, the bill would encourage the U.S. to work closely with our allies and partners to promote and finance secure networks and trusted vendors, without having to rely on Chinese state-owned companies that threaten our security.

Taken together, these important measures will help us shore up key gaps and vulnerabilities, while countering China's strategic technology ambitions.

Mr. Speaker, our adversaries hope and believe that they can achieve undue influence and dominance over international telecom infrastructure and technical standards.

This bill is a step toward stopping their unfettered aggression in an area that is of vital strategic importance.

It will help preserve our global leadership in tech and telecom, keep our companies competitive, and protect the safety and integrity of the networks we rely on every day.

Once again, I thank Chairman Meeks for his leadership in this area. I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Malinowski, for yielding. I also thank my dear friend and colleague, Congressman Ted Deutch, for his tremendous leadership on this and so many issues as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism. It is a privilege to serve with him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 558, a bipartisan resolution I was proud to help introduce with Chairman Deutch, urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization.

The Iranian-backed terrorist group, Hizballah, is responsible for thousands of civilian deaths, not just in the Middle East, but around the globe. Until 9/11, Hizballah had killed more Americans than any other terrorist group. Today, it maintains an arsenal of 150,000 rockets aimed at Israel.

Just this past week, Hizballah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, issued a series of grave threats and provocations against Israel, claiming its missiles are locked on an Israel offshore gas field, which Israel seeks to develop to export much-needed energy supplies to Europe.

This is another reminder of why it is incomprehensible that any EU member

can credibly assert any distinction between Hizballah's so-called military and political wings. The truth is, there is one unified Hizballah, and it is dedicated to carrying out terrorist activities around the world.

That is why this bipartisan resolution calls on our partners in the EU to take a stronger stand against worldwide terrorism by designating Hizballah--as a whole--as a terrorist organization.

We must continue to keep pressure on Hizballah and all other terrorist groups that threaten the United States and our ally Israel, and undermine peace, security, and stability throughout the region.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this bipartisan measure, and I thank Chairman Deutch for his steadfast leadership on this important issue.

Madam Speaker, the CHIPS and Science Act is critical legislation to ramp up American production of semiconductor chips.

Our economy relies on these chips, which are key components in everything from cell phones to cars to advancing national security measures.

By increasing production here in America, we will onshore a critical capability, reduce dependence on foreign manufacturers, and lower costs for hardworking families.

The United States invented the semiconductor chip. We used to make 40 percent of the world's chips. Now, we make 12 percent, leaving key industries vulnerable to foreign interference. It is high time we counter the threat posed by countries like China and Russia and bring this industry home.

The CHIPS and Science Act does just that, and this investment helps North Carolina chip manufacturers, including Qorvo and IQE, major employers in my home district, to ramp up production and create good- paying jobs.

Madam Speaker, I proudly cast my vote to send the CHIPS Act to the President's desk. I am ready to see this legislation work for North Carolinians and for the country.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, the Right to Contraception Act. It seems unbelievable that in the year 2022, we should have to explain that access to birth control is about equality. It is critically important so that women can:

Decide whether and when to have a family.

Pursue an education.

Build an economically secure future; and

Protect their health.

Let's be honest about the facts. Almost all women will use birth control at some point in their lives, and more than 96 percent of voters support access to birth control. Yet, the right to birth control is under attack by Republican lawmakers who are pushing disinformation about how contraceptives work and attempting to ban methods like IUDs and Plan B.

Justice Thomas has added fuel to that fire by stating in Dobbs that the Court should reconsider the constitutional right to contraception.

This extremism is about one thing: control of women. We will not let this happen. We will not play defense anymore. This time, we are playing offense.

My bill creates a Federal statutory right for individuals to use birth control and for healthcare professionals to provide it.

It protects a full range of contraceptive methods, including birth control pills, IUDs, and emergency contraceptives.

It subjects any State or government official who restricts access to contraceptive services to a civil action by the

attorney general, or an individual or healthcare provider whose rights are violated.

Let's be clear, this bill is about allowing women the freedom to choose the contraception that works best for them to allow them to prevent unintended pregnancies.

American women--indeed all Americans--deserve the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies, their family planning, and their lives.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' on this well-crafted bill, the Right to Contraception Act, because women and girls across this country are watching you. They want to know:

Are you willing to stand up for them?

Are you willing to fight for them?

Madam Speaker, I certainly am.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a recent milestone in my home State of North Carolina. CNBC just recognized North Carolina as America's Top State for Business in 2022.

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan and bipartisan infrastructure law, North Carolina's economy persevered through the pandemic and is continuing to grow rapidly.

Major companies like Toyota and Boom Supersonic Jets are building innovative manufacturing operations in North Carolina's Sixth District, proving that we have what businesses want.

With a well-equipped workforce, investments in infrastructure and research, and stellar institutions of higher education, it is no surprise that North Carolina is garnering national recognition for its business-friendly climate and strong economy.

I thank Governor Cooper for his leadership. I will continue to work with our elected officials and businesses to ensure that North Carolina remains the strongest economic State in the country.

Madam Speaker, in the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Justice Thomas wrote an alarming concurring opinion explicitly calling for the reconsideration of the constitutional right to contraception.

Republican State lawmakers have attempted to restrict birth control for years, and this concurring opinion serves as a rallying call to escalate attacks on access to contraceptives.

I will not stand idly by and watch extreme politicians obstruct women's private healthcare choices and diminish reproductive freedom. Access to birth control is key to achieving gender equality, improving health outcomes for women, bolstering educational and economic opportunities for all, and ensuring people are in control of their family planning.

That is why this week I introduced the Right to Contraception Act. My bill would codify the right to access birth control into Federal law and put a stop to violations of Americans' right to this essential reproductive healthcare.

I urgently ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support my legislation to protect birth control and safeguard women's right to make their decisions about their own bodies and futures.

Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, Congress launched the Pell Grant Program to provide direct financial aid to low-income students to increase access to higher education. This program has opened up the door of opportunity and made the dream of college a reality for millions of students across the country.

In North Carolina's Sixth District, over 30,000 students are utilizing nearly $140 million in Pell grants to pursue their higher education goals at local colleges and universities. Nationwide, nearly 7 million students, or 40 percent of undergraduates, are Pell grant recipients.

As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I am proud to share my support for Pell grants and to have supported a $400 increase to the maximum annual award. By increasing the Pell grant award, we are ensuring that more students can attend college and join the skilled workforce in their desired career field.

I look forward to Congress continuing the bipartisan support for expanding student access to college through Pell grants for another 50 years.

Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Cicilline for holding this Special Order. I am proud to rise to celebrate Pride Month.

This month, we honor the many contributions of the LGBTQ community while recognizing that the fight for equality is ongoing.

I recently watched a documentary on PBS called ``The Lavender Scare.'' I was amazed to learn how liberating military service during World War II was for so many members of the LGBTQ community. The people from small towns and rural areas were relieved to meet so many others in the military who shared their feelings about sexuality and gender. They realized that they were not alone, and they could be valuable members of the war effort.

But then, when they returned home after V-E Day, they were confronted with the Red Scare and the nightmare that was Senator Joe McCarthy, who ruined many lives by calling on government officials to identify homosexuals and remove them from their government jobs, claiming they were vulnerable to blackmail by Communists and could be induced to reveal national secrets. It is a shameful part of our history that I never really knew about.

Thankfully, we have come a long way since the Lavender Scare and the Stonewall riots of 53 years ago, including the recognition of marriage equality in 2015, the enactment of landmark hate crime legislation, and extending title IX protections to include LGBTQ students. We have made progress toward equality, but there is much more work to be done.

We must remain vigilant in our fight to protect freedom of expression, equal marriage rights, and the right to access gender- affirming healthcare and healthcare free of discrimination. We also need to continue the fight against discrimination in housing, employment, public accommodations, and much more.

To every LGBTQ person who is concerned about what the future holds, I will tell you this: I see you; I value you; I support you; and I will continue to fight for you in Congress.

I believe that all Americans should be able to live their lives free from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and I condemn all attempts to roll back hard-won progress.

As a member of the Equality Caucus, I have helped pass LGBTQ-related bills, including two pieces of legislation that were recently signed into law by President Biden.

The first of these new laws is the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, which improves data collection for hate crimes, including hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity. This law also allows States to apply for grants to create hotlines to assist victims of hate crimes.

The other law designates the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, as a national memorial, honoring those who lost their lives to the senseless violence that took place on June 12, 2016.

I am proud to have cosponsored and voted in favor of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which bars discrimination in the workplace, housing, and lending systems. I remember when we passed that that day, Mr. Cicilline said to me: This bill will change lives.

For far too long, LGBTQ Americans have lived in fear of hate and discrimination. The passage of the Equality Act is an important step toward guaranteeing that every American has the fundamental right to equality under the law.

The House passed the Equality Act last year. It is time for the Senate to do the same.

I thank Mr. Cicilline for bringing us here tonight to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ community.