Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8314, the No Foreign Election Interference Act.

While the title and the intent of the bill sound reasonable, in its current form, the bill ultimately fails in its goal to defend democracy. Instead, this bill would unfairly hurt American workers and the unions that represent them.

This bill has many unintended and harmful consequences. Although the intent and the spirit of the bill are good, in the current form, it falls very short of its intention.

It imposes penalties on organizations that make contributions to political committees and receive contributions or gifts from foreign nationals during an 8-year lookback period. However, it does not define a contribution or gift for this purpose or contain any reasonable cause exception. The penalty equals twice the amount of the contribution made to the political committee. If a tax-exempt organization makes more than two political contributions described in this bill, the organization loses its exempt status as of the third contribution.

I am particularly concerned about the severe penalties the bill would impose on organizations that have international members and make political contributions. This bill is opposed by unions, including the AFL-CIO, which represents 60 affiliate unions and 12.5 million workers.

Labor unions are obligated to represent all workers in a bargaining unit, but they have no role in who is hired.

An employer may hire a citizen, a permanent resident who holds a legal green card, or an immigrant holding a temporary visa.

Accordingly, if union dues are considered a contribution or gift and the dues are received from a foreign national, that is, a noncitizen, this would restrict the union's right to give to a political committee.

It is imperative that they be able to advocate on behalf of workers and fully engage in the political process. Since this bill only applies to nonprofits, for-profit corporations don't face this same danger.

Finally, the bill is also redundant because foreign nationals are already prohibited from donating to political candidates in any Federal, State, or local election under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.

If Republicans were serious about removing dark money from politics, the bill under consideration today would be the DISCLOSE Act.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, the intent of this bill is noble and even reasonable, but as it is written, it is fundamentally flawed.

While it is true that the bill passed out of committee on a nearly unanimous vote, and in that iteration, I did vote for it. Upon further scrutiny of the bill, we noticed that there were some very troubling aspects of this bill, which make it not fulfill the solution to the problem that it is seeking to do.

If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle were correct in saying that it doesn't unfairly target unions, they could tighten up the definition of what contributions are in this bill, or they could amend it to specifically exclude labor unions from the provisions of this bill that are so punitive.

My question to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle is I can understand wanting to remove foreign influence from our elections, but why do they want to silence the voices of working families in the United States, because that is what this bill does.

I support removing dark money from politics, but this bill is not the right bill, and it is certainly not the right approach.

Its significant penalties on tax-exempt organizations unfairly target workers and the unions that represent them, and there is nothing swampy about wanting to defend those workers.

This bill does not fail to meaningfully reduce foreign election interference, so I must urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' in opposition of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, this evening we are honoring a remarkable colleague and a dear friend, Congressman Bill Pascrell. A quintessential

New Jersey politician, I think he really exemplified the grit and the determination that really defines his working-class hometown of Paterson, New Jersey.

He was such a champion for his constituents, and he never backed away from a fight if he thought that the cause was good and just.

Some might call Bill brash, blunt, and feisty maybe. All of those were true, but those words only tell a part of the story because he was also profoundly kind and a dear and caring person to others, and somebody that I really consider myself fortunate to have known and to have learned under as a Member of Congress.

Our friendship was a little unlikely, the New Jersey grandson of Italian immigrants and the California daughter of Mexican immigrants. Although our worlds were thousands of miles apart, we quickly discovered that we had much in common.

Bill and I most famously bonded over our love of baseball. He participated in the Congressional Baseball Game every year that he was in office, either as a player or later as a coach. Every year you could find him in the dugout or prowling the first baseline in his trademark Fordham baseball jersey. He was our batting coach, and his batting tips were legendary: ``Hit the back of the ball, guys, hit the back of the ball.'' Now, none of us really knew what that meant, but we all tried.

It is only fitting that one of the last times I saw him was at this year's game. He was in the dugout helping me coach our team, which was exactly where he wanted to be, and I know that our dugout is going to be a little emptier next year without Silky there to fill that void.

Baseball is really only where our friendship began. Shortly after I joined the Ways and Means Committee, I moved up and got to sit near to him. As Mr. Davis said, Billy was two seats up. For years, I had a front-row seat to seeing him fight tirelessly for working-class people.

Bill could work himself up into a lather, and when he did that, our chairman, Richie Neal, would look over at me and give me the look, like, hey, Linda, you have got to rein him in. He expected me to babysit Bill Pascrell. If anybody knows anything, you can't control that man.

He was such a champion, whether it was advocating for affordable healthcare or protecting Social Security or pushing for more support for our firefighters and first responders, Bill never lost sight of where he came from or why he was there and why he served.

Few people can really match his legacy of public service. He was a sergeant, a teacher, an assemblyman, a mayor, and a Congressman. His life, I think, is a real testament to the difference that one person can make when they are driven by a deep sense of community and compassion.

As we remember Congressman Pascrell, let's honor his legacy by continuing to fight for the values that he championed--justice, equity, and an unwavering support for those who need it the most. He will be sorely missed.

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Coach Roger Williams and the Republican baseball team on their victory. I was proud of the hard work and the dedication of the Democratic team and the fact that we scored almost twice as many runs as last year. Unfortunately, the Republicans also almost doubled their score from last year.

I often say that music and sports really bring us together, and after playing the game for nearly 20 years and coaching the Democratic team for the last 2 years, I believe that now more than ever.

Despite our political differences, Republicans and Democrats came together to enjoy America's pastime and raise money for some very worthy causes.

I really do want to give a shout-out to all of the players and coaches who put in the time and the effort to make that annual event such a great success. As Coach Williams mentioned, together we raised more than $2 million for D.C.-based charities and scholarships for area students, and that is something that I think we should all be proud of.

When Democrats and Republicans come together to raise money for worthwhile charities and to do good in the Washington, D.C., community, we are all America's team.

Again, I congratulate Coach Williams, and we look forward to the rematch next year.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague John Larson, who has been at the forefront of advocating for changes to the Social Security system that will ensure its longevity for the next generation and generations to come and will increase the benefits for those who currently receive Social Security.

In contrast, the Republicans are proposing cuts to Social Security, and those cuts will harm millions of Americans.

Make no mistake, cutting Social Security is a direct attack on the Latino population in this country. Social Security benefits are a significant portion of retirement income for Latinos. Forty-two percent of Latino couples and 59 percent of unmarried Latino individuals rely on Social Security for 90 percent or more of their retirement income.

Yet, my Republican colleagues are hellbent on cutting those Social Security benefits. Their proposed budget would cut Social Security benefits for 253 million people, and Latino communities, sadly, will pay the price.

Without Social Security, 47 percent of Latino retirees would be living in poverty. Mr. Larson frequently says that Social Security is the most successful antipoverty program that this country has ever created.

In contrast to Republicans, who want to cut Social Security or increase the age at which you can begin to draw on it, Democrats are committed to protecting all people from living in poverty. Democrats want to invest in programs like Social Security so that more Americans, including Latinos, can afford to retire.

One of the ingenious parts of Social Security 2100 will increase the cap for those who pay into the Social Security system. I frequently give this example. I think it is important. Many Americans don't know that once you earn above a certain income, you stop paying into the Social Security system. That means that a professional athlete, like, say, a professional baseball player who makes millions of dollars a year in income, in their first at-bat of the season, they hit that cap and pay no more money into Social Security the rest of the year.

I think that we can fix Social Security, increase its longevity, and protect communities like the Latino communities and the women who depend predominantly on Social Security for their retirement income. All we are asking for is a vote on this legislation.

I have no doubt that if we put that bill on the floor, it would pass by a large margin. Give us a vote.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to represent a large and vibrant Armenian community in my congressional district.

On behalf of those constituents, I rise today to recognize the 109th commemoration of the Armenian genocide.

From 1915 to 1916, the Ottoman Empire systematically massacred the Armenian people. According to the U.S. Holocaust Museum, up to as many as 1.2 million Armenians were killed.

This genocide is one of the most painful moments in the world's history, yet, sadly, it is not spoken about much. We can never deny or forget the systemic and individual killing and mistreatment of Armenians.

We must learn from that terrible history and never lose focus on protecting oppressed and vulnerable people. We owe that to the victims and their descendants, who are still reeling and suffering from this cruel and unjust atrocity.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in standing with the Armenian

community. We should all make time to reflect on this solemn day of remembrance.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 35th anniversary of the City of Diamond Bar.

Founded in 1989, Diamond Bar is celebrating 35 years of cityhood this April.

Like many Southern California communities, Diamond Bar's recorded history started with a Mexican land grant for ranching, this one covering Brea Canyon and the eastern Walnut Valley.

The Diamond Bar Ranch area eventually developed into a planned residential community. More than 50,000 of my constituents now call Diamond Bar home.

This San Gabriel Valley city set against a mountain backdrop offers a lot to its resident families and visitors, including beautiful parks like Summitridge, a wonderful public library, top-rated school districts, and public safety services.

I am very proud to represent Diamond Bar as part of California's 38th Congressional District.

Happy Birthday to the City of Diamond Bar.

Mr. Speaker, today, I stand in strong opposition to this foolish and useless resolution while my Republican colleagues rush to support Big Oil instead of America's seniors, children, and workers.

It is not rocket science. We all know that carbon-intensive industries harm our planet. It is also clear from air and water pollution, to floods, to wildfires that lower income communities face the greatest risks tied to climate change.

Families of color often have access to the fewest resources to prepare for or recover from extreme weather events and other environmental emergencies. So much for looking out for the costs of the little people.

As a mom and as a legislator, I will never stop fighting to help ensure that our Nation's children inherit a greener and healthier world.

My Republican colleagues want to choke this planet in carbon dioxide.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this GOP effort to prop up oil and gas companies who, by the way, make record profits year after year while American families continue to struggle.

Mr. Speaker, I always support good-faith efforts to improve our Nation's tax code.

I don't oppose reasonable benefits for the American businesses that drive economic growth and strength. However, I can't support a bill that provides generous tax breaks to large corporations while offering only minimal tax relief for working families.

Republicans have refused again and again to enact Democratic tax writers' proposals that would enact a more generous version of the poverty-busting child tax credit.

Under President Biden's American Rescue Plan, the child tax credit lifted millions of kids out of poverty and helped their families buy groceries, pay for healthcare, and cover their rent.

As a mother and a legislator, I will never stop fighting on behalf of our country's poorest babies and children and the moms, dads, grandparents, and other caregivers who raise them.

Unfortunately, I have to vote against this tax scheme because I, for one, recognize that working families matter, or should matter, just as much as businesses.

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

Mr. Speaker, today, the majority is pushing yet another extreme anti- choice bill just in time for the big antiwoman rally in Washington this weekend.

Rather than helping hardworking American families, Republicans are working to divert Federal funds from needy children in order to serve their own extremist agenda that is out of step with the majority of Americans.

Republicans are attempting to funnel more Federal funds into dangerous anti-abortion facilities, the so-called pregnancy centers. The other side doesn't even dispute that these centers have a specific agenda: to do everything they can within their power to coerce women into doing what the center thinks is best for the women, not what is in the best interest of the mother.

These so-called crisis pregnancy centers provide deceptive and inaccurate information to pregnant women.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is intended to help low-income women and families, not to reduce abortions. This funding was not intended to bankroll deceptive anti-abortion centers that misrepresent themselves as healthcare facilities. These facilities often delay access to care, and they use emotional manipulation to divert access to care from licensed medical professionals.

The American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and even the National Institutes of Health have all issued reports citing numerous ethical and medical concerns with these so-called centers.

These facilities are unregulated. They have no legal obligation to provide pregnant people with accurate information. They are not subject to HIPAA protections, nor are they required by law to maintain client confidentiality. In many cases, they don't even have licensed medical professionals on staff.

One woman who sought out care at a Florida women's health center in Jacksonville was told that having an abortion would cause breast cancer. This is patently false. Another was advised to relax at the beach after being incorrectly informed she was carrying an ectopic pregnancy.

These facilities are unsafe. Multiple physician organizations have stated that they are unethical. The bottom line is that anti-abortion clinics should not receive Federal dollars to continue spreading false information to low-income, often minority, women seeking comprehensive, nonjudgmental fact- and science-based reproductive healthcare.

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

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

I will point out that one of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle mentioned some violence, and I will talk about the violence that happens at abortion provider clinics.

They have been compiling statistics on instances of violence and disruption against abortion providers for more than 40 years, and there is definite uptick in the amount of clinic invasions, obstructions, blockades, targeted mail, and harassing phone calls.

In recent years, we have seen incidents of violence with devastating impacts. For example, in November 2015, three people were murdered and nine injured when Robert Dear brought an assault-style rifle to a Planned Parenthood healthcare center in Colorado Springs and opened fire.

A gunman also attacked a Planned Parenthood clinic in Knoxville, Tennessee, in the early hours of January 22, 2021. In December 2021, the same clinic was burned to the ground by arsonists.

If you want to talk about incidents of violence, let's talk about the onslaught of violent attacks that abortion providers have had to deal with for over the past 40 years.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu), my colleague on the Ways and Means Committee and a champion for women's rights.

Mr. Speaker, I will tell my colleagues on the other side of the aisle that unlike these so-called pregnancy centers, Planned Parenthood actually gives women factually and scientifically accurate information and the full range of choices, while the pregnancy centers have a clear agenda and only one point of view.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms.

Moore), a champion for women everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), my colleague on the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan), my esteemed colleague.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are insulted by the issues that we are raising because I have a brief here in front of me from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists which talks about the fact that these pregnancy crisis centers use digital marketing tactics to target people seeking information about abortion care. According to their studies, 71 percent of these centers use deceptive means, such as spreading thoroughly debunked misinformation, and 38 percent of them do not clearly state on their home page that they don't provide abortion care.

If you are mad at us for raising these points, talk to the College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, because they have done an in-depth, comprehensive study to talk about the repeated misinformation that these centers give out to women who are in crisis. The deceptive information that they give to them puts these women's lives at risk. If you are so pro-life, why do you not care about the life of the mother?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lois Frankel).

Mr. Speaker, I would just love to point out to anybody who cares for real facts a 2006 congressional report and investigation that found false and misleading health information provided by federally funded pregnancy resource centers. That will give you an accurate picture of just what goes on behind those doors.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Oregon.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Kansas (Ms. Davids).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

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

We keep hearing about how these centers provide infant formula, and we have a program that helps mothers afford infant formula. It is called WIC.

I remind my colleagues that House Republicans' fiscal year 2024 Agriculture appropriations bill would have made benefit cuts and eligibility losses for millions of mothers who rely on WIC. It would have shortchanged WIC by $800 million.

So, I find the argument that the centers are so necessary to be specious because that could have been provided under the Agriculture appropriations bill, which my Republican colleagues wanted to cut so dramatically. If they really cared about working families, they wouldn't be asking for those deep and unconscionable cuts to a program that provides infant formula to mothers.

As we have seen over the past hour, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are choosing to double down on their war on women. These centers have coerced, deceived, and put women's lives in danger with inaccurate, biased information, but don't just take my word for it. A congressional investigation found that the majority of these clinics surveyed provided false information about abortion. The American Medical Association has called these centers unethical because of the gross disinformation that they push on vulnerable women.

These centers are not regulated by State's consumer protection statutes which govern the practice of medicine. Republicans have proven they have no interest in amending this bill to actually protect pregnant women seeking care from these facilities.

My Ways and Means Republican colleagues voted against ensuring these facilities provide medically accurate information.

Why are they so afraid to provide women with medically accurate information?

My Republican colleagues voted against prohibiting these facilities from providing biased reproductive health information or counseling.

Let me be very clear. Democrats have fought, and we continue to fight, for comprehensive equitable access to reproductive healthcare for women.

We passed the Women's Health Protection Act twice.

We passed the right to contraception.

The American people have been very clear about supporting access to reproductive healthcare. Democrats have proven that we stand with them, and this bill that the Republicans have put on the floor today once again shows that my Republican colleagues are willing to discard pregnant women to appease their extremist anti-choice rightwing base.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman John Larson for being the chief advocate for reforming our Social Security system. It is high time that Congress acted to preserve those benefits for people who have earned those benefits by paying into the system over their working lives.

I want to touch on another issue that concerns me with respect to Social Security, and that is that we see an increasing number of people who rely on those benefits. Since 2010, the number of individuals who rely on Social Security has increased over 21 percent. Over that same period of time, Social Security's administrative funding for basic operations has fallen by 17 percent after you account for inflation.

Those shortages--that is, more people needing services but the budget being cut--have caused a significant delay across Social Security for our most vulnerable populations, including those who are awaiting disability benefits.

I have a constituent from my district who has been working with my casework team in my district office for more than a year and a half. This individual had a stroke and applied for disability benefits with Social Security in August 2022 after becoming paralyzed. He was denied those benefits in June 2023.

He appealed his decision that same month and didn't receive a response from Social Security until November of 2023, stating that his application needed additional review. After 17 months without any form of income, his case was finally approved just this week. Americans should not have to wait this long to see these necessary earned benefits.

Instead of working with Democrats to ensure that Social Security has a better capability to serve constituents like that one, my Republican colleagues proposed devastating cuts to Social Security. Additional cuts to an

agency that is already struggling with a significant backlog would be catastrophic for seniors and individuals with disabilities. After they do these budget cuts, then my Republican colleagues want to turn around and blame the staff at the Social Security Administration for not being able to handle the backlog.

Unfortunately, the story that I told about my constituent is not unique. There are countless Americans who suffer from disabilities and are unable to get their benefits in a timely manner. These Americans deserve better.

I again thank my colleague, Mr. Larson, for leading the charge on reforming the system, on holding up our end of the bargain to people who have paid into the system over their entire working lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 65th birthday of the city of Walnut, California.

On January 20, 2024, the city of Walnut celebrates 65 years since its incorporation. A longtime ranching community, the Walnut area was primarily used for cattle and sheep grazing, as well as growing wheat, grapes, and fruit trees.

Walnut has since grown into a diverse, successful city that I am proud to represent as part of California's 38th Congressional District.

Walnut is beloved for its historic charm and traditions such as the Walnut Family Festival and Winter Jam.

From the iconic windmill in Suzanne Park to the wildlife sanctuary at Mt. SAC to the beautiful groves of walnut trees to its wonderful senior center, the city of Walnut has much to offer residents and visitors alike.

I wish a happy birthday to the city of Walnut.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 65th anniversary of the City of Walnut.

Walnut is beloved for its historic charm and traditions such as the Walnut Family Festival and Winter Jam. On January 20, 2024, the City of Walnut celebrates 65 years since its incorporation.

A long-time ranching community, the Walnut area was primarily used for cattle and sheep grazing as well as growing wheat, grapes, and fruit trees.

Walnut has since grown into a diverse, successful city that I am proud to represent as part of California's 38th congressional district.

From the iconic windmill in Suzanne Park to the wildlife sanctuary at Mt. SAC to the beautiful groves of walnut trees to its wonderful Senior Center, the City of Walnut has much to offer residents and visitors alike.

Happy Birthday, City of Walnut.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Ms. Rosalynn Alba Cobarrubias.

A City of Walnut native who worked tirelessly to become a media entrepreneur and music promoter, Rosalynn's first music industry position was as a radio DJ at KSAK-FM 90.1, the campus radio station of Mt. San Antonio College.

Rosalynn played a key role in developing the MySpace Music platform, serving as its marketing head and leading artist relations and driving connections between artists and their fans. Her work ethic was enhanced by her creativity and innovation. Rosalynn produced legendary live events, collaborating with iconic artists like Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Miguel, and John Legend.

She was also known for using her talent and resources to spread a wealth of knowledge--not just to upcoming artists, but to her community at large. Rosalynn was a strong advocate for Filipino American artists, helping them find success in the music industry. She also supported Filipino American heritage nights at Dodgers games.

A long-time advocate for youth empowerment even beyond Southern California, Rosalynn helped build basketball courts across the Philippines. Rosalynn's passion for music and dedication to her Filipino heritage and community should be celebrated.

Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring the life of Rosalynn Alba Cobarrubias. May God bless her and ease her family's pain as they mourn for their loss.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleagues on another successful Congressional Baseball Game. Sadly, my Democrats were bested this year, but I will tell you this: This year was a rebuilding year for us, and just look at the level of talent we displayed this year.