Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, proponents of Donald Trump's so-called big, beautiful bill are lying to the American people. They claim it won't cut Medicaid, but it slashes $715 billion, gutting care for seniors and children with disabilities.

They insist moms and kids won't lose food assistance, but this bill will cut SNAP benefits for over 7 million Americans, stripping food from families' tables.

They say new red tape will improve efficiency. Come on, we know better. New GOP paperwork hurdles will cause millions of eligible Americans to lose Medicaid and SNAP, not because they don't qualify, but because they missed a form or got stuck in the system.

We have seen it before in Arkansas, Georgia, and New Hampshire. Republicans tried this approach, and people suffered.

Why are they doing it? They are doing it to fund tax breaks for billionaire donors--who won't have to fill out a single form, by the way.

Are these your priorities, tax cuts for the rich paid for by taking healthcare and food assistance away from everyone else? Prove us wrong. Reject this bill, and stand up for working families.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend the vote series today due to a personal family matter. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 121 and NO on Roll Call No. 122.

Mr. Speaker, I was unable to attend the May 5, 2025 vote series due to a delayed flight into Washington, D.C. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 115; and YEA on Roll Call No. 116.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, as well as his leadership and that of Chair Bilirakis on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced the Youth Poisoning Protection Act alongside Representative Mike Carey because we are facing an urgent and deeply troubling trend, the promotion of sodium nitrite, a toxic chemical, as a method to die by suicide.

In 2022, The New York Times revealed the existence of online suicide forums that don't just discuss suicide, they promote it. Anonymous users on these platforms encourage vulnerable children and young adults to end their lives, and they often suggest using this chemical to do it.

Now, most Americans have never heard of sodium nitrite, but for families who have lost loved ones, it is something they will never forget. In lower concentrations, it is a chemical used safely to cure meats and fish, but in higher concentrations it is deadly. For the few who have survived attempts to end their lives using sodium nitrite, they report agonizing pain as the chemical deprives their body of oxygen.

After learning how easy it is to purchase high-concentration sodium nitrite, my office worked with retailers to limit access to businesses with a proven use for the chemical, but some sites still openly market it as part of a so-called suicide kit to people in crisis.

There is no Federal law that allows us to stop this. That is where this bipartisan legislation comes in. The Youth Poisoning Protection Act would restrict sales of sodium nitrite above 10 percent concentration to businesses with verified industrial or commercial use. That threshold is based on expert recommendations for safe handling and won't interfere with legitimate industries like food processing.

This bill is focused and reasonable. It targets bad actors who are exploiting a loophole to profit off tragedy, and it does so without burdening responsible businesses. That is why, last Congress, this bill passed the Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously before passing it here on the floor with overwhelming support. Now we must finish the job.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Youth Poisoning Protection Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in solemn remembrance of one of the darkest chapters in modern history--the Cambodian genocide. On this day, April 17th, we mark the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge's rise to power, a tragic turning point that ushered in a period of unimaginable suffering for the Cambodian people from 1975 to 1979. We remember this anniversary not only to mourn the innocent lives lost, but to honor the strength of those who survived, and to reaffirm our collective commitment to ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated.

Under the brutal regime of the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, Cambodia was transformed into a nation-sized prison camp. The regime waged war on its own people, targeting those deemed enemies of the state-- intellectuals, religious leaders, ethnic minorities, and anyone who dared to dissent. Families were torn apart. The vulnerable--the young, the elderly, the sick--were left to perish in what came to be known as the Killing Fields, whose soil still bears witness to the horrors inflicted there.

In just four years, more than 1.7 million lives, nearly a quarter of Cambodia's population, perished through mass executions, forced labor, starvation, and disease. The Khmer Rouge didn't just seek to kill individuals. They sought to erase a culture, a history, a sense of self. What was left behind was a shattered society struggling to pick up the pieces.

Yet, amid such overwhelming grief and loss, there is a story of extraordinary resilience. The survivors of the genocide embody a strength and resolve that defy comprehension. Despite enduring horrors beyond words, they rebuilt their lives and committed themselves to preserving the memory of those who were lost. Many have bravely shared their stories--passing them down to future generations so that the full weight of this tragedy is never forgotten, and its lessons are never ignored.

Today, on Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Day, we not only mourn the millions of lives taken, but we stand in solidarity with the families who were shattered and the culture that was nearly destroyed. We recognize the unwavering courage of the survivors, whose voices compel us to remember that remembrance is not merely an act of reflection--it is a solemn pledge to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.

May we never forget the lessons of this dark history. And may we stand united in our commitment to peace, to justice, and to the protection of human rights everywhere. It is on all of us to ensure that the pain of the Cambodian people is never erased, and that the memory of the victims continues to guide us toward a world where such horror is never repeated.

We mourn not only for what was taken, but for the indomitable spirit of the Cambodian people--who faced unspeakable cruelty with unimaginable resilience. And we stand in awe of the courage of those who survived to bear witness--because remembrance is not just a tribute to the past, but a vow to safeguard the future.

Madam Speaker, we are witnessing yet another shameful

attack on the fundamental rights of millions of Americans.

House Republicans are forcing a vote this week on the so-called SAVE Act, a bill that does nothing to stop inflation from driving up grocery prices, nothing to end Donald Trump's trade war that is pummeling the stock market, and nothing to protect Americans' retirements. Instead, this is a messaging bill, sloppily written and dangerously flawed, designed to create confusion and chaos in our electoral system rather than strengthen it.

The SAVE Act claims to prevent noncitizens from voting in Federal elections. At first glance, that may seem logical, if not for the fact that it is already illegal and has been for decades. Noncitizens caught voting in Federal elections already face deportation and even jail time.

Time and again, when pressed for evidence of widespread noncitizen voting, Republicans have failed to produce a single credible example. The reason? Because the problem they claim to be solving simply doesn't exist.

Why are we here today? Why are we debating a bill that addresses a nonexistent problem while hardworking American families are struggling with rising costs and economic insecurity? Because Republicans in Congress don't have real solutions. Rather than addressing the issues that matter, like lowering grocery costs and helping families get ahead, they are prioritizing a bill that disenfranchises millions of American women.

Roughly 69 million women, about 25 percent of eligible voters in our country, have IDs that do not match their birth certificates, usually because they changed their name once they got married. Under this bill, if they don't have a passport--and half of Americans don't--they wouldn't be able to register to vote.

Think about that: Tens of millions of women, the backbone of our families and our communities, stripped of their right to vote simply because they got married.

Imagine a woman who has voted in every election since she turned 18, who pays her taxes, who contributes to her community. One day, she learns that because her name changed when she got married, she is suddenly unable to register to vote in her State.

No amount of documentation, no Social Security card, no marriage license, no previous voter registration will satisfy the requirements of this bill unless she possesses an updated passport or a birth certificate that matches her current name.

This isn't just bureaucratic nonsense. It is an outrageous attack on the rights of women across our country.

The worst part, Madam Speaker, is that Republicans have known that this was an issue with this bill for years, and they have done nothing to fix it. They either don't care that millions of American women will be stripped of their right to vote or that has been their goal all along. Either way, this is going to create chaos in every State in America, and it is going to make it harder for Americans to participate in their democracy.

It appears to be the latest in a long series of tactics, like polling place closures and gerrymandering, designed to silence voters that Republican politicians don't think they can win.

That is not how democracy works. You don't get to silence millions of Americans just because they might not like your policies. You represent them, too.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject this dangerous legislation and protect the rights of every eligible voter in the country because our democracy is strongest when every voice is heard and every vote is counted.

Mr. Speaker, as the designee of Congresswoman Pettersen, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer amendment 2 on behalf of my colleague, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, who welcomed her second son, Sam, last week.

Unfortunately, outdated House rules prevent Congresswoman Pettersen from voting remotely while she recovers and cares for her newborn. I am proud to stand here today to advance the critical amendment that she authored, one that ensures the legislation before us does what it is intended to do: Save lives.

This amendment adds a straightforward but essential guardrail. Before this bill can take effect, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General must certify that it will actually reduce overdose deaths.

Mr. Speaker, we are at a pivotal point in the fight against the opioid crisis. For the first time since 2018, overdose deaths have declined over a 12-month period. That is not by chance. It is because of evidence-based strategies, including many championed by the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force.

The investments we have made to disrupt the illicit drug trade, expand access to treatment and recovery support, and make naloxone widely available, they are working. We should be building on this progress, not undermining it.

That is what this amendment ensures. While we have made real strides in this fight, the reality is still devastating: More than 80,000 Americans lost their lives to overdoses in 2024. This crisis remains a national emergency, one that demands a public health response, not a return to failed policies that devastated communities for generations.

Everyone in this Chamber agrees that we must keep fentanyl and other illicit substances out of our neighborhoods, and we have to do it in a way that actually reduces overdose deaths. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this amendment because it guarantees that this bill will save lives. We cannot afford to go backward. Let's keep moving forward.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time remaining.

THE SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Massachusetts has 3 minutes remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Dexter).

Mr. Speaker, it is a very spirited debate on the other side, but this is on the amendment. This amendment would just make sure that the underlying bill actually does what it is intended to do, which is save lives simply by ensuring that the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General certify that this bill will reduce overdose deaths.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, in order to make this legislation effective, vote ``yes'' on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, we are more than 3 weeks into January, yet Republican leadership in this Chamber has failed to call a vote on a single piece of legislation to address the pressing needs of hardworking families. There has been nothing to ease the burden of grocery prices, nothing to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and nothing to make it easier for an American to buy a home.

Instead, what is the priority for the Republicans this week? A vote on H.R. 21, the so-called Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a bill that will give politicians here in Washington the power to monitor women's pregnancies and criminalize doctors and nurses who provide lifesaving care to women in need. I wish I was kidding.

Over the next couple of days, we are going to hear Republicans get up here and use scare tactic after scare tactic in attempting to justify this vote, so let's set the record straight about what this legislation does.

At first glance, its stated goal might sound reasonable: ``to prohibit a health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.''

That sounds logical on paper, but here is the reality: This situation almost never happens. When Texas passed a law requiring reporting on abortions resulting in live births, they reported zero live births over 3 years--zero. The same was true in Oklahoma.

What is this bill actually targeting? As we dig into H.R. 21, it becomes clear that this legislation purposely distorts what abortion care really is. It sweeps up highly complex and deeply personal medical situations, including those where a mother learns that her life is in danger because her baby has a fatal abnormality and cannot survive outside the womb.

Imagine the agony of that mother, a woman who dreamed of holding her child, now forced to make the unthinkable decision to induce labor to save her own life.

As her baby is born in agonizing pain with just minutes or hours to live, because no amount of medical intervention can save them, this bill seeks to make that horrifying situation even worse by overruling any decision by the mother and her doctor to provide compassionate, appropriate medical care.

Instead, it threatens doctors and nurses with jail time, even if the only alternative is prolonging the pain, suffering, and, tragically, the inevitable death of the baby.

Tell me, Mr. Speaker, how does that make sense? Why do Republican Members of Congress insist they know what is better for a mother and her baby than she and her doctor do?

This bill is not about protecting life. It is about pushing out blatant lies about women's healthcare, and it is about control. It is about extreme Republican politicians inserting themselves into the most personal, private, and heartbreaking decisions a family has to make.

The cost is that women's lives are put at risk because some here would rather legislate ideology than acknowledge the complexity of real-life medical decisions.

To my colleagues across the aisle, instead of advancing a dangerous, divisive bill that exploits women's health for political gain, let's focus on what Americans are actually asking us to do. Let's work to lower costs. Let's expand access to healthcare. Let's give families the tools they need to thrive. The American people sent us here to do that work together.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the GOP's reproductive healthcare surveillance act.

Madam Speaker, House Republicans have a big vote planned for today. Now, I wish I was talking about a bill that will lower costs for hardworking families or help more Americans buy a home, the issues that so many people told us mattered most to them in the 2024 election.

However, instead, in just their second week of power, House Republicans have chosen to vote on a Federal takeover of sports at all levels. To justify this power grab, my colleagues across the aisle are preying on the legitimate concerns that some people have about transgender athletes in women's sports.

For the vast majority of those folks, many of them parents, their concerns don't come from a place of hate. They come from a place of worry about the safety of their daughters and the fairness of their sport.

Now, as the only woman in Congress who played Division I sports in college, I know how critical it is that we ensure that sports are safe and fair above all else. That is all any athlete wants, to know that if they put in the hard work and the training necessary, they are going to have a fair shot on game day.

As the mom of two young daughters, who I cheer on from the bleachers every weekend, I know that parents want their kids to be able to enjoy the game they love. After all, we know how important sports can be to children's development. They give the chance to build confidence, learn teamwork, and develop lifelong friendships.

That is why, like parents and athletes across our country, I have long placed my trust in the governing bodies of sports, the experts who have dedicated their lives to these games, to create fair and responsible rules for participation.

Despite what the authors of this legislation have said, many of those organizations have already updated their rules to ensure fairness and safety in their sports. That includes the international authorities overseeing track and field, boxing, cycling, swimming, and rugby, just to name a few. These organizations, many led by former athletes, worked with scientists, athletic federations, and human rights organizations to craft thoughtful, evidence-based rules, including those governing participation in the Paris Olympics last summer.

Don't get me wrong, Madam Speaker. I recognize that there is more work to be done, but why in the world would we let insincere, attention-seeking politicians here in Washington, many of whom know little to nothing about competitive sports, take over? It doesn't make any sense.

However, that is exactly what my Republican colleagues are going to do today, inject themselves into decisions they have no business making. In fact, if you listen to them, they would have you think that a transgender woman in college, who may have transitioned after puberty and may present physical advantages over her opponent, is the same as a 10-year-old girl who just wants to play soccer on the weekends with her friends.

However, those two situations aren't the same at all, and the consequences of that approach will be devastating: girls as young as 4 years old being subjected to invasive lines of questioning about their bodies and even physical inspections by an adult, a stranger, a predator all because some creep accuses them of not being a girl. What parent would want to put their daughter through that? I know I wouldn't.

Madam Speaker, we won't be able to find common ground on this issue today, but this debate has made one thing abundantly clear: Members of Congress are the last people who should decide who gets to play sports in America. That responsibility belongs where it always has, to the organizations whose mission it is to protect the fairness, the safety, and the integrity of their sports.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the GOP's child predator empowerment act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm about the dangerous and extreme policies put forward in Project 2025, the self- described blueprint for the Republican President to take over total control of the Federal Government and our lives.

Spanning more than 900 pages, Project 2025 lays out not a concept of a plan but a plan for Donald Trump or another GOP President to ignore the Constitution and unilaterally turn back the clock on working families, women, and our children.

For families, Project 2025 calls to eliminate overtime pay and kick people with preexisting conditions off of their healthcare insurance.

For women and girls, Project 2025 calls for taking the Republican abortion bans that are devastating women in Georgia and Texas and jeopardizing IVF in Alabama and doing the same nationally.

For our children, Project 2025 calls for eliminating the Department of Education and defunding our public schools.

Each and every one of these proposals would have been devastating for millions of Americans. I know that, Mr. Speaker, because every one of them would have ruined my life.

My dad was a union ironworker. He picked up overtime whenever possible so that he could keep a roof over our heads and put food on the table. Like so many families, Project 2025 taking away the chance to work overtime could have meant us losing our home or going to bed hungry.

When my dad was diagnosed with MS at just 48 years old, he needed his health insurance to visit the doctor and afford his medications. Project 2025 allowing an insurance corporation to kick him off his healthcare coverage just because he was sick would have been a death sentence, just as it could be for millions of Americans with preexisting conditions.

When my husband and I decided to start our family but struggled to get pregnant, we were forced to turn to IVF, and we are so fortunate to have our two beautiful daughters, but as we saw in Alabama, Project 2025's proposals that endanger IVF fertility treatments can be physically and mentally debilitating for couples turning to fertility treatments as their last hope.

Finally, I am the proud product of Lowell Public Schools, from elementary to high school. Like any public school student, I can tell you so many stories of teachers who made the most of the little resources they had to give us every opportunity to succeed.

Ripping that lifeline away from working families, as Project 2025 proposes, is a horrible idea, plain and simple.

Project 2025 will take us backward to a time when life was great if you were wealthy or well connected, but that same time was hard. It was hard for workers and parents like mine who wanted nothing more than to give their kids a better life than they had. That is why I am here to say that we can't and we won't go back.

House Democrats will move our country forward with a vision where people are proud to be an American again.

They are proud because working families aren't just getting by and making ends meet, but they are getting ahead.

They are proud because women have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions without the fear of politicians getting in the way.

Lastly, they are proud because our children can go to class and thrive while us moms and dads don't have to worry about their school being defunded or, worse, the next target of a deranged mass shooter.

Mr. Speaker, that should be something all of us can get behind, and it is why I will urge my Republican colleagues to reject Project 2025 and work with us to build a future where people have every chance to get ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I express my sincere gratitude to Ranking Member Pallone, Chair Rodgers, Ranking Member Eshoo, Chairman Guthrie, Congresswoman Miller-Meeks, and my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee for their unanimous support of this important bipartisan, bicameral legislation.

When medical professionals determine that clinical care is necessary to treat a child battling a rare disease, there should be no reason that administrative burdens get in the way. However, that is exactly what happens far too often to children with complex medical needs.

In fact, when children with serious health conditions lack access to the specialized care that they need in their home State, parents can be forced to navigate the complicated process of working with healthcare providers and State Medicaid officials to arrange for out-of-State care.

Unfortunately, those same parents are often met with burdensome requirements that can lead to significant delays for children in desperate need of care. In some cases, it can prevent access to care entirely.

Mr. Speaker, the Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act is urgently needed to eliminate this red tape and ensure that children receive appropriate, often lifesaving care that they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, to highlight the importance of getting this bipartisan legislation over the finish line, I highlight a story from a patient who was negatively impacted by the onerous and time-consuming Medicaid provider screening and enrollment process.

Almost 3 years ago, a baby, who I will name Lily, was born in a rural State with her esophagus in two separate segments and connected abnormally to her windpipe. Since this condition requires a particularly complicated procedure to correct it, doctors explained to the family that there are only two places in the country where it could be done. One of them was Boston Children's Hospital, in my home State of Massachusetts.

Mr. Speaker, like most parents, Lily's mom and dad were immediately ready to travel to Boston, where the surgeons were standing by to perform the lifesaving operation. Instead, Lily, who was a Medicaid recipient, was waiting for her home State to enroll the eight providers at Boston Children's Hospital who had the expertise to perform this complex surgery.

Her State, confused about the rules concerning out-of-State provider enrollment, wouldn't authorize the surgery that Lily desperately needed. Over the next 7 months, Lily's surgery was delayed and rescheduled over 3 times. As she waited, she lived with a floppy airway that could have collapsed at any moment.

Mr. Speaker, clearly the stakes are far too high to allow bureaucratic hurdles to stand in the way of urgent medical care for children like Lily. Failing to address this issue will have severe and far-reaching consequences, not only on children who are battling complications that could be addressed with immediate care, but also their families, who are forced to endure significant financial and emotional strain when the care is delayed.

What is worse is that these delays also lead to a greater reliance on emergency services and drive up overall healthcare costs.

Passage of the Accelerating Kids' Access to Care Act is instrumental in fixing this issue. This bipartisan legislation will get us one step closer to ensuring that no child on Medicaid has to endure unnecessary delays when they need critical care outside of their home State.

That is why I am so grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both Chambers who were instrumental in drafting the advancement of this legislation, including Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and Senators Grassley and Bennet.

Mr. Speaker, that is why I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to join us in passing this strong, bipartisan, and potentially lifesaving legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Senior Chief Petty Officer Eric Donahue for his tremendous contributions and 20-year legacy in the United States Navy, including his service in the Joint Special Operations Command. Senior Chief Donahue has dedicated his life to our country for the past two decades, all while building a family with his wife, Katie, and raising their three children: Meredith, Ivy, and Tyler.

Eric Donahue was born and raised in Andover, Massachusetts, and is a proud graduate of Austin Preparatory School in Reading, Massachusetts. A dedicated student, he furthered his education at the University of New Hampshire, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Management, and Operations. It was at the University of New Hampshire that Eric met Katie, who has been a pillar of strength for him throughout his Navy career.

Moved by the September 11th terrorist attacks, Eric embarked on a mission to become a Navy SEAL to protect the United States, its freedoms, and its ideals. After graduating from the University of New Hampshire in 2004, he had the opportunity to join the Navy as an officer. Instead of waiting to become an officer, he immediately enlisted to begin training without officer status.

In March 2005, Eric commenced Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and successfully completed the program by August 2006, displaying exceptional dedication. He was subsequently assigned to SEAL Team 8 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Throughout eight overseas deployments, including to Afghanistan and Iraq, his dedication, leadership, and outstanding service led to his appointment to the prestigious SEAL Team Six, the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. Within SEAL Team Six, Senior Chief Donahue has continued to lead in various capacities, overseeing numerous training events worldwide and being entrusted with dignitary protection.

Senior Chief Donahue has received numerous accolades and awards throughout his career in recognition of his service. These include five Sea Service Deployment ribbons, three Presidential Unit Citations, two Navy and

Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, one Navy Unit Commendation Medal, a NATO Medal, a Joint Service Achievement Medal, three Joint Service Commendation Medals, a Joint Meritorious Unit Award, an Iraq Campaign Medal, six Good Conduct Medals, an Expeditionary Medal, three Combat Action Ribbons, a Bronze Star with Valor, an Army Commendation Medal, and an Afghan Campaign Medal.

Senior Chief Eric Donahue has demonstrated remarkable bravery, selflessness, and dedication as a Navy SEAL. He exemplifies the values of courage, resilience, and sacrifice that we hold dear as Americans. His leadership will leave a lasting impact on the United States Navy and our Nation. I would like to formally recognize and extend my deepest gratitude to Senior Chief Donahue and his family for their twenty years of service to our country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the tremendous contributions and legacy of Luis Pedroso, a successful businessman, community leader and philanthropist who has dedicated his life to the prosperity of the Greater Lowell region. He recently retired and will be celebrating his 65th birthday this year.

Luis was born in Sao Jorge, Azores, Portugal in 1959. His family briefly lived in Angola, Africa before returning to the Azores and immigrating to California in 1969. After the passing of his father, his family returned to Portugal before emigrating back to the U.S. and settling in Lowell. After graduating from Lowell High School in 1980, Luis would embark on a professional career where he would go on to found Qualitronics, Inc., co-found Accutronics, Inc., high-end electronics manufacturing companies, that have employed many people in our region. Before retiring, Luis sold both of his companies--a testament to his tremendous career in business.

In addition to his impressive professional career, Luis never forgot where he came from. He is extremely involved in the Portuguese community, so much so that he established the Helio and Amelia Pedroso/ Fundacao Luso-Americana Endowed Chair in Portuguese Studies at UMASS Dartmouth as well as the Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Studies at UMASS Lowell. He also played an instrumental role in spearheading the effort to bring 24-hour Portuguese programming to local television to serve Lowell and other communities. He is a founding member of the Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF), where he recruited many individuals, including myself, to serve on its board and support nonprofits in Lowell and beyond. For 27 years, the GLCF has transformed the lives of countless individuals, families and nonprofit organizations in our community by fostering community growth and development through funding, leadership, and collaboration. Luis is also the creator of the Portuguese American Scholarship through the Greater Lowell Foundation which assists graduates of Lowell High School. Through Luis's leadership and efforts, he has made the City of Lowell a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Luis's kindness and wisdom make him a trusted figure for individuals to lean on when experiencing hardship. Most notably, Luis played an integral role in assisting a young woman who was studying at Middlesex Community College to receive her nursing degree. After a car accident left her vehicle totaled, she reached out to Luis, who without hesitation was able to assist her in finding a new vehicle so she could continue her studies and fulfill her practicum.

Throughout his life, Luis has been the recipient of numerous recognitions from distinguished organizations for his work in our community. He has been recognized as the Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers Person of the Year, as well as being named a recipient of the prestigious George L. Duncan Award of Excellence. He was selected to receive the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator Award and the International Institute American Dream Award and was inducted into the Lowell High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. In the face of so many well-deserved accolades, Luis has remained humble, accessible, and down to earth--a surprise to no one who has had the pleasure of knowing him.

Luis is known for his love for his family and friends, his kindness to those around him, his entrepreneurial spirit, and his immense pride in the City of Lowell's Portuguese Community. Luis's legacy will continue to leave a lasting and positive impact for many generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the tremendous contributions and legacy of Sergeant Ian Taylor, a respected law enforcement officer and community leader who dedicated his life to public service. He tragically passed away in the line of duty on April 26, 2024.

Ian was born in Methuen, MA, in 1974 to Wayne Taylor and Sandy Crane. His parents raised him and his three brothers, Danny, Zack, and Cameron to always be kind and respectful, and instilled in them a sense of community. In 1997, Ian married the love of his life, Mindy. Together, they raised their two children, Nathan and Kylee, who they taught the values of family and community that Ian treasured so dearly.

Ian's dedication to law enforcement began by watching his father who proudly worked as a police officer for the City of Lawrence. Ian would eagerly follow in his father's footsteps by joining the Lawrence Police Department in 2003. He continued his career briefly with the Wilmington Police Department and ultimately landed at the Billerica Police Department, where Sergeant Taylor served for 12 years until his passing.

As a Detective for the Billerica Police Department, much of his time was spent assigned to a federal drug taskforce. Ian's dedication to assisting those struggling with substance abuse was evident through his tireless efforts with the Billerica Substance Awareness Prevention Committee, where he served as a leading member. Throughout his life, Ian was the recipient of numerous recognitions for his heroics in our community. Most notably he received a Medal of Commendation from the Watertown Fire Department for his bravery and lifesaving efforts at the scene of an accident in 2018.

Beyond his professional achievements, Ian was known to all for his kind disposition, ever-present grin, and the love he shared for his family and his community. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need or use his sharp wit and sense of humor to raise the spirits of those around him. One of his greatest achievements was the ability to always put a smile on his wife and children's faces. He was involved in every aspect of their lives, always present at extracurriculars to cheer on Nathan and Kylee, and eager to enjoy life's simple moments together. He was happiest with them by his side and took on the job of their role model and protector with the utmost pride.

Ian was known for his love of his family and friends, the kindness he showed to those around him, and his profound commitment to creating and inspiring positive change. His legacy is one that will be unforgettable and everlasting in our Commonwealth. My heart goes out to Mindy, Kylee, Nathan, and the entire Taylor family during this difficult time. Ian's legacy will live on through his loving family and all who had the honor of knowing him.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4510, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Reauthorization Act.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration, or NTIA, has done tremendous work to help connect all Americans to high- speed, reliable, and affordable broadband. The historic $65 billion in broadband investments we included in the bipartisan infrastructure law last Congress are supercharging those efforts. I have confidence that NTIA is doing all that it can with this funding to connect as many Americans as possible to fast, reliable, and affordable internet.

Congress has also tasked NTIA with other meaningful responsibilities. The agency manages Federal spectrum and its users and coordinates with the Federal Communications Commission to ensure that our airwaves are effectively managed in a safe and secure manner. It is also charged with advising the President on advanced technologies.

A lot has changed since the NTIA was last reauthorized in 1992. We should ensure that it continues to have the authorities it needs to implement many of the Nation's broadband efforts and technological advancements in such areas as spectrum management and artificial intelligence.

H.R. 4510 helps achieve this goal. This bipartisan bill reauthorizes NTIA and elevates its leadership by making its Administrator an Under Secretary within the Department of Commerce. Taking these important steps will better reflect NTIA's importance as the President's primary adviser on telecommunications and technology policy.

This legislation also includes the text of several bipartisan bills the Energy and Commerce Committee has worked on this Congress and last Congress. It includes the PLAN for Broadband Act, co-led by Representatives Kuster and Walberg, which directs the NTIA to develop a national strategy to close the digital divide. As part of this strategy, the agency must develop a plan to monitor the consistency, affordability, and quality of broadband services supported by Federal broadband programs.

It also includes Representative Allred's Open RAN Outreach Act and two bills co-led by Representative Eshoo to address cybersecurity issues.

This bill also includes important provisions to codify NTIA's current work and responsibilities. It would firmly establish NTIA's role in public safety communications. From managing Next Generation 911 grants to overseeing FirstNet to its important first responder work at the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, NTIA plays an important role in ensuring that the public and law enforcement agencies have a modern and reliable communications network. I am pleased that this bill cements NTIA's public safety possibilities.

I also want to note that this bill incorporates feedback to address questions and concerns that we heard from

other committees, including the Armed Services Committee, the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the Intelligence Committee. The staffs have had productive discussions about these important issues. Among other things, we have improved NTIA's ability to file classified information with the FCC on behalf of other agencies.

We have also agreed to work further with our colleagues to better develop methods for advancing NTIA's spectrum management capabilities. I am pleased that we could find a path forward to vote on this bill today, and I thank the chairs, ranking members, and staff of these three committees for their cooperation.

I also thank Chair Rodgers, Communications and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Matsui, and Chairman Latta for their bipartisan work on this bill. With this legislation, we ensure that NTIA has the authorities it needs to continue both connecting all Americans to high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband and overseeing innovative technological developments.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4510, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, this reauthorization of NTIA is bipartisan legislation that ensures that NTIA will have the authority it needs to continue both connecting Americans to high-speed, reliable, and affordable broadband and overseeing innovative technological developments.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4510, and I yield back the balance of my time.