Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out on the rising costs of healthcare, which are putting undue burdens on the American people. I thank my colleague Representative Jennifer McClellan for consistently continuing to elevate the voices of the Congressional Black Caucus members as we talk about the stories of our communities and the stories of our people and those who we represent, highlighting the needs of those in our Nation who are suffering right now.

I thank our chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Yvette Clarke, for her earnest, continued work to also make sure that the Congressional Black Caucus is standing on the front lines and trying each and every day to make sure that we are defending people's rights to exist in this country freely and fairly without these undue burdens.

Earlier this year, we watched as this Republican congressional leadership reached historic new lows in their inability to work in a bipartisan fashion to meet the needs of the people who we were elected to serve.

For 43 days, Speaker Johnson refused to come to the table and extend the healthcare subsidies which will prevent premiums from skyrocketing for the millions of Americans who get their insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace. That is approximately more than 70,000 people, constituents, in my district alone.

During that same time, we watched President Trump and his administration play politics with Federal food assistance, jeopardizing benefits for hungry families.

I heard a story in my district in Georgia from Rich about the impact that these cost increases would have on his livelihood. I have heard many stories, but this one really struck me.

He writes: I am the self-employed, sole provider for a family of four where two of us have preexisting conditions. If the Republicans get their way and remove the subsidies, my very basic catastrophe plan- style HMO will literally increase tenfold. I am currently spending 39 percent of my income on healthcare, including the subsidized ACA policy. Removing subsidies will ultimately lead me to financial bankruptcy.

There are more stories just like this, and they are a window into how the chaos and unpredictability of this administration is making it harder on working families to succeed and thrive.

Since January, we have dealt with the uncertainty and the chaos that has been brought by this second Trump administration. From the unpredictability of the tariffs, the rising costs of healthcare, and the increasingly unattainable goal of homeownership, what is going on in Washington should concern every single American in this country.

Congress and the Trump administration should be doing more to lower costs and improve outcomes for our hardworking families.

As I have continued to do since I first came to Congress, I have been committed to addressing the concerns of the families who I am very honored to represent. No family in this country should ever be forced to choose between paying their insurance premiums or for prescription drugs over paying their mortgage. That is unconscionable, and that is most definitely un-American.

We must identify solutions to put the dream of homeownership back into reality for young Americans, and we must make it less expensive for Americans to get the skills necessary to provide a decent life for themselves and for their families, but they can't do that if they are sick. They can't do that if they can't go to work. They can't do that if they can't pay their bills, such as their hospital bills or other medical bills.

I am a two-time breast cancer survivor myself, and not a day goes by that I don't think about how egregious not extending these ACA tax subsidies is to the American people. I am a lucky person.

I am very grateful that I had the ability to have private insurance, group insurance, where I could pay for all of my healthcare and didn't have to sit there and worry about how I was paying the bills while I was getting healthy and well.

There are people all over this country who, if they ever get sick, that is the absolute demise of their ability to be able to live in this country and care for their families, and that is un-American.

I am so grateful to Chairwoman Clarke and my fellow CBC member, Representative McClellan, for convening us again tonight as we look ahead to the year 2026. I truly look forward to working with every single one of my colleagues to build a better life for the hardworking families that we are privileged to represent, but I honestly pray every single day that everyone here, every one of us in this Chamber, truly is committed to the same ideals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of a National Park Service employee in my district, Ann Honious.

Since 2020, Ann has served as superintendent of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Center in Sandy Springs and has been a vital partner in our community, working hand in hand with my office, the Cumberland CID, and the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy as we work to secure funding, break ground, and eventually cut the ribbon on the New Day Palisades project.

Thanks to Ann's leadership, our community continues to preserve and advance the legacy of President Carter's bold vision for a beloved natural resource.

I offer my gratitude to Ann for her devotion to our national public lands and celebrate her distinguished career in service to this country.

On behalf of my office, Georgia's Sixth Congressional District, and the United States House of Representatives, I congratulate and wish her the best in her retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend two City of South Fulton police officers, Sergeant Myesha Cooper and Officer Robert Johnson.

On Saturday, August 16, Sergeant Cooper and Officer Johnson were called to the scene of an accident where they swiftly rescued a mother and her two children from an overturned vehicle.

As I continue to reflect on an invigorating August work period, it is a privilege to come back to Washington to uplift and to amplify the everyday stories of exceptional bravery and quiet heroism that can be found all across my district.

These two police officers represent the very best of law enforcement, and I am honored to recognize their service to my community back home.

On behalf of my office, the Sixth Congressional District of Georgia, and the United States House of Representatives, I thank Sergeant Cooper and Officer Johnson.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Mr. Speaker, our public health system is on life support while Secretary Kennedy pulls the plug on lifesaving programs.

Just 9 months in, he fired his own CDC director and has forced out disease experts who protected us through a pandemic and disease outbreaks.

He has perpetuated distrust in vaccines, while we see the highest number of measles cases in more than three decades.

He has decimated gun violence prevention research while 10,000 people have been killed by gun violence, and that is just so far this year, including Georgia officer David Rose, who was shot and killed while defending CDC employees from a gunman who was provoked by anti-vaxing rhetoric.

While CDC's staff reels from the violence that they have witnessed, they face threats to the work that they do that keeps us safe and healthy. Our public servants who have dedicated their lives to the health of others deserve better. The American people deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the attack on every American's right to a quality public education in this country.

Families have been promised the right to send their kids to good public schools, regardless of where they live, how much money they make, or their child's disability. However, the careless actions of Secretary McMahon and the Trump administration continue to threaten that promise.

From canceling programs dedicated to teaching children with dyslexia, autism, and other disabilities in the middle of the school year, to cutting teacher pay and illegally withholding billions of dollars meant for after-school programs, President Trump and Secretary McMahon are choosing to make it more difficult for your child to get the attention and high-quality education that they deserve at school.

They are choosing to miss deadlines and hold your tax dollars hostage, tax dollars meant specifically for our children.

This funding is typically released every year before July 1 to ensure that schools are ready to go for the school year that is about to start the next month. It represents at least 10 percent of Federal K-12 funding in every State and almost 15 percent in my home State of Georgia, almost $225 million.

These dollars appropriated by Congress are meant to improve student learning and empowerment, as well as their achievement, operate before- and after-school programs, train teachers, and help adult learners go back to finish high school.

A few weeks ago, on the evening of June 30, the Department of Education sent out the following message to States:

``Given the change in administrations, the Department is reviewing [the funding for these programs], and decisions have not yet been made concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year. Accordingly, the Department will not be issuing grant award notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1.''

In their own words, they knew this deadline was coming and missed it anyway. They chose to wait until the last second to notify States and schools that the funding your family relies on to educate your child for the school year that is starting in a few short weeks is not where it is supposed to be.

Instead of being in your child's classroom, your money is sitting in Washington because the Secretary of Education could not be bothered to meet a deadline that is the difference between a school having an after-school program or not. This is funding that is the difference between a child having a safe place to go while they wait for mom or dad to get off work and come get them or not.

The Trump administration's failure to release this funding on time is disrupting school and district planning, jeopardizing the education of millions of students, and forcing layoffs, program delays, and cancellations for students and their families. It is wrong, and it is completely unnecessary.

Last week, I led a letter to the administration signed by 150 Members of the House demanding that the administration follow the law and release this funding. House Democrats will continue to do everything that we can to make this right for the families who are counting on us every day.

There is no legitimate reason that any child or family in this country should have to personally deal with program closures and larger class sizes. That is what the Secretary and President are demanding of parents every single day that they fail to meet this incredibly basic responsibility.

My son, Jordan, was, unfortunately, killed in a shooting in 2012, and I miss him every single day. While my son may be gone, I will never stop being his mother. I will never stop fighting for every child who isn't getting what they truly deserve from our great country.

When I came to Congress in 2019, I promised I would never stop fighting to ensure that every kid who grows up here in the United States receives the skills necessary and stays alive long enough to live a decent life, a life that my son never got to truly fully explore or enjoy.

Time and time again, Secretary McMahon and President Trump fail to rise to the challenge, and the American people are the ones who continue to pay the price.

No more excuses. Secretary McMahon and this administration must follow the law and immediately release the funding meant for our schools, teachers, and families. It must happen.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative McClellan from Virginia, for leading this time here on the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, it is pretty difficult to believe that it has actually been 5 years that have passed since the loss of our dear friend and our colleague, Congressman John Lewis.

At this delicate moment in our Nation's history, we draw upon the wisdom of his words and look to his legacy for strength and guidance as we carry the torch that he lit for civil rights.

In his last words to the American people, John wrote: ``Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble. Voting and participating in the democratic process are key.''

Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of a nation. Where else but America could one develop that sense of conviction?

John Lewis knew it was true because he lived it every single day of his life. The son of sharecroppers who preached to chickens as a young boy when nobody else would listen would go on to become known as the conscience of Congress, this body. It is a legislative body which once denied him his right to participate in American democracy.

When John marched, Americans were moved to act with him. When he spoke, people listened. When he participated in sit-ins, including one in this very Chamber, to confront the issue of gun violence in America, he challenged each of us to join him in getting in that good and necessary trouble to raise the consciousness of the American public and lay down the heavy burdens of hate.

Ordinary people with extraordinary vision, that is who John Lewis was, and it is who he calls on each of us to be, especially in this day and in this hour.

We must continue to honor his legacy with unshakeable determination to fight for what is right and for what is just because I promise you that this is exactly what the American people deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my esteemed colleague from Virginia, Representative McClellan, for holding this CBC Special Order hour tonight specifically for our celebration of Juneteenth.

I really want to thank her so, so very much more for that amazing history lesson, and it will forever be here marked in this House and in this Chamber for generations to come because we understand and know that we must always, in each generation, make sure that we continue to understand our history and to celebrate our history.

I thank my colleague and CBC Congressional Black Caucus leadership in tonight's Special Order hour.

To me, Juneteenth, Mr. Speaker, is a solemn remembrance of the long- fought battle to fully realize freedom for African Americans. It was one of the highest honors of my congressional career to actually help to work to pass the legislation which has formally established Juneteenth as a Federal holiday.

I remember how excited I was that day that we were invited to the White House for the signing of this legislation. It was truly a day that we believed felt like freedom. As I stood in the White House with many of my Congressional Black Caucus colleagues watching President Biden sign that legislation into law, I was deeply moved by the sight of Miss Opal Lee, who has just been mentioned here as the mother of Juneteenth or the grandmother of Juneteenth, seeing her vision for Juneteenth come to fruition as a national holiday actually realized in her lifetime after she worked so hard and so long recognizing that African Americans needed a day where we could just, once again, celebrate ourselves and celebrate the liberation and the freedoms that we had fought so hard for.

This woman, whose family home was burned by White rioters on June 19, 1939, never lost the hope, though, that she would, one day, live to see the day when Juneteenth would become our Nation's next Federal holiday. I hope that we can really look back and think about these days when the days going forward become dark.

It was Toni Morrison, the great writer, who once called us to: ``Dream the world as it ought to be.'' I am so glad that because of her, historic societies across America have worked to commemorate the stories of enslaved people and reflect on their place in our national history.

Our stories create their own bench by the road. What I mean by that is that I went to an event last week in my community. We were celebrating a simple bench placed in a garden of flowers in my community and in my district that was representing a family of once former slaves. A woman in the garden organization, the garden group, moved into a home, and in that home, she saw in the cupboard a piece of paper with the names of four people on this piece of paper.

She said that she felt so touched and felt like there was a story behind these four names. She held on to the piece of paper. She felt compelled to find out who were these people who lived in this area and lived in this house.

Who were they?

She did some work, she did some research, and she actually started doing a genealogy on the family. She came to find out that they had come from former enslaved individuals in my community. Actually, there were over 1,300 enslaved individuals in that district on that plantation.

So this woman who was part of the garden society decided that we need to do something to honor the history of these enslaved people because they meant something to this community, and they meant something to the families who lived here. So what they did was they created a bench. They built a bench in a garden, and that is called the Bench by the Road so that we will never forget the histories and the families of the enslaved people who lived, worked, and died there in my district.

So in that, I say that it is really important for African Americans, for people of color, every time this year, but as we should do all year long, to reflect on the legacies of all the men and all the women and all the children that preceded us but were enslaved.

While I was in my district in Georgia last week, I had the honor of attending that bench dedication that I just spoke about and to actually recognize one of the descendants. Her name was Matilda Ruff. She now lives in Cobb County, and that information by which those enslaved individuals had lived in my district in Cobb County, that information came from the 1860 Census.

We were joined by Matilda Ruff's great-great-granddaughter Tanyah. Her story and the stories of all of Matilda's descendants are essential to understanding the full history of who we are in our community and my district. As my community in Georgia continues to enjoy Matilda's Garden and benefit from the Bench by the Road, I am encouraged every time I drive past that bench. I am so encouraged because I know that there are projects and people like this that are working to keep the histories of African Americans alive all over the Nation.

Although we are really facing some really extraordinary challenges, I think about the quiet resolve and that everlasting hope of the men and women out in Texas who waited years for the Emancipation Proclamation so they could receive word of their freedom from their enslavement. I just feel like as African Americans we must always really, really work not to succumb to a lack of hope but continue to make sure that we are building up ourselves, building up our communities, building up our future generations to live in the hope of a better day.

Inspired by the life and legacy of Matilda Ruff, guided by the words of Toni Morrison, and motivated by the activism of Opal Lee, I really hope that my people will stay reinvigorated and always remain awakened to that hope.

I will say that I remember as a child growing up in the civil rights movement, and that tells you how old I am, but at 3 years of age I was at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in a stroller, and that was the time that our dear, departed colleague, John Lewis, gave his first big speech.

I remember growing up when a lot of the civil rights leaders, workers and volunteers were coming to my home as a child. My father was Illinois branch president of the NAACP. I grew up in the marches. I grew up in the rallies. I grew up understanding how important it is for African Americans to continue to fight for the freedoms that they had gained.

It is really painful for me now because I know all the work that my parents did. My mother invited all of the volunteers and the workers into my house at night as they were preparing for the marches and rallies and creating poster board signs. I really believe it would be so painful for my father to know that everything that he has worked for now is being stripped away and eroded. Everything that he worked so hard for, for me, for his daughter is being stripped away.

It is painful to even think about the fact that my own child, his grandson, died from a lot of the racial discrimination and bigotry and hatred that is emerging its ugly head here again in America. I think about my father and what he would believe or what he would think about all of the ancestors that had come before us that worked so hard and they died so that I could be here today representing Georgia as a Member of the House of Representatives.

What I say is that I believe it will always be important for African Americans to remember their history. It will always be important for us to celebrate who we are, to uplift who we are, to stand in the greatness of who we are and what we have overcome because truly, more than anything, I believe we will have to continue to work as hard as we can to be overcoming.

As I think about this Juneteenth holiday, I pray going forward that my family and friends and my community will find it equally as important to stand and to celebrate who we are as African Americans and to know that we are intricately fashioned into the fabric of this country, and nothing will ever be able to erase that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary leader, Mr. David Garrison of Georgia, on the occasion of his retirement from Delta Air Lines after 34 years of service to one of our Nation's most respected airlines and a cornerstone of our state's economy. An accomplished business and civic leader, David was recognized as a Delta Chairman's Club honoree--the airline's highest employee recognition--and serves as a Trustee on the Board of Georgia Institute of Technology.

Mr. Garrison began his distinguished career in 1991 as a Propulsion Engineer with Delta TechOps, having earned degrees from both Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Throughout the decades, David brought deep technical expertise, unwavering integrity, and a profound sense of responsibility to every role he held.

Over the years, David's leadership and vision helped shape Delta's engineering and maintenance operations into a world-class operation. From rebuilding after bankruptcy to navigating the complexities of a major airline merger, his steady hand and commitment to excellence were essential in moments of both great challenge and great progress.

As Senior Vice President of Delta Connection and CEO of Endeavor Air, David led with a heart for people--responsible for more than 20,000 employees. His ability to lead through change while maintaining Delta's standard of excellence earned him the respect of his colleagues and the trust of Delta customers across the country.

In his final role as Delta's Senior Vice President of Corporate Safety and Security, David carried one of the greatest responsibilities at the airline: the safety of over 100,000 Delta team members and millions of travelers worldwide. Under his leadership, Delta strengthened its safety systems and culture, reinforcing its long- standing commitment to making every flight as safe as possible.

Mr. Speaker, David Garrison's career reflects the very best of Georgia values--hard work, humility, and care for others. He has left an indelible mark not only on Delta Air Lines but also on the broader aviation community and on countless lives he has touched throughout his career. On behalf of Georgia's 6th Congressional District, I thank David for his outstanding contributions to Delta Air Lines and to aviation safety and security. I wish him and his family health, happiness, and continued blessings in this next chapter of life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to attempts by Republicans to slash healthcare that millions rely on just to benefit Elon Musk and the friends of the President.

Almost 14 million Americans will lose healthcare coverage if this plan is successful. This is life or death.

In my home State of Georgia, these Republican cuts impact 2 million people, real people. A single mother in Atlanta working two jobs is now facing losing her Medicaid. A veteran in rural Georgia now has to face red tape just to get the benefits he earned serving our country. This isn't about accountability. It is about taking food and healthcare from people who need it most.

People have seen how these policies fail. In Georgia, red tape and paperwork errors have already kicked thousands off their healthcare coverage, even when they are eligible.

This isn't reform. This is cruelty. My colleagues need to protect healthcare for working families, not strip away their lifeline.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act.

Law enforcement officers serve as our lifeline of defense against danger. With this bill, we have an opportunity to equip the Department of Justice and Congress with very crucial information to better understand and enhance officer safety.

Law enforcement officers deserve to return home safely to their families, knowing their well-being is truly a priority. Federal, State, local, and Tribal officers face very long hours, immense pressure, and unpredictable dangers every day. Over time, the constant strain of the job can take a significant toll on their bodies and minds.

While there are some mental health resources currently available to our officers, there is still so much more that we can and should be doing to ensure their wellness and, most definitely, their safety.

By prioritizing data-driven approaches to officer safety and wellness, we can address systemic risks, reduce preventable tragedies, and build a stronger, more resilient law enforcement system.

The goal is that the required report will provide us with insight into the challenges our officers face and help us to understand the additional support that they need to remain physically and mentally safe.

Federal law enforcement officers dedicate themselves to protecting our Nation, to protecting our communities, and it is our responsibility in this body to ensure that they receive the protection that they deserve.

Law enforcement officers face unparalleled risks every day, from physical violence to psychological traumas. According to the FBI, assaults against officers remain very, very high, with tens of thousands of them who are injured annually.

Beyond the line of duty, officers experience higher rates of PTSD, depression, and suicide compared to the general population. Yet, for too long, this body, Congress, has not done as much as we should to tackle these issues that they face.

This bill requires the collection and analysis of critical data on attacks on officers, injuries that they suffer, their mental health challenges, and wellness program effectiveness. Without accurate data, we are fighting blind.

By identifying trends, such as the frequency of attacks on officers or gaps in mental health support, we can implement targeted solutions to keep our officers safe and to keep them healthy.

Many officer fatalities and injuries are preventable with better training, better equipment, and better policies. For example, if data reveals that a significant number of injuries occurred during traffic stops, agencies can adopt safer tactics or deploy new technologies. If certain regions report higher rates of firearm-related fatalities, we can prioritize resources there.

Officer suicide rates outpace line-of-duty deaths. I will say this again: Officer suicide rates outpace line-of-duty deaths. Yet, stigma and inadequate resources prevent many of them from seeking help. This bill will help us track mental health trends, evaluate the effectiveness of peer support programs, and expand access to counseling. Healthy officers are better officers. They are more effective officers, both for their own well-being and for the communities that they serve.

When officers are safer, healthier, and better supported, they are better equipped to serve with professionalism and with empathy. Our communities benefit when law enforcement agencies are operating using data to improve practices rather than reacting to crises.

Yet, the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act isn't just about gathering data and reporting statistics. It is about lives, and it is about public safety. It is about the officer who returns home safely to their family at night. It is about the rookie who gets lifesaving training, or the veteran who receives mental health care instead of suffering in silence.

Mr. Speaker, if we are to realize any of these benefits, this bill must be the first step that we take and definitely not the last. We must be prepared to act on the information that we get from these reports that come from this bill, much of which is already collected by the DOJ and other agencies. We must be prepared to provide tangible resources to our law enforcement, which I am sure the reports will suggest that they need.

As we observe National Police Week and talk about officer safety and wellness, I would be remiss if I did not call for the immediate restoration of hundreds of millions of dollars that are affecting nearly 40 States in public safety grant funding that the Department of Justice chose to abruptly terminate. Some of that canceled funding went to law enforcement training; support and other critical resources; and, more specifically, to addressing the health, safety, and wellness of law enforcement.

As I have here, President Trump's 2026 budget would have devastating impacts on public policy by cutting $1 billion across 40 Department of Justice grant programs which support police departments and reduce violent crime, hate crime, and crime against women.

Mr. Speaker, $646 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, for violence and terrorism has been terminated. I can go on and on, but I won't.

These terminations include a grant totaled at over $8 million to the National Policing Institute, which assisted rural police departments and district attorneys' offices to pay for violent crime investigators and programs to combat child sex abuse.

I also feel that it is necessary to mention once again, as the ranking member has, the plaque that we voted to hang in the Capitol more than 3 years ago to honor the countless officers who fought--and they died--to protect the lives of Members of Congress, all of us in this body. They not only fought to protect Members of Congress but staffers and other personnel and to save our democracy on January 6, 2021.

Mr. Speaker, hanging this plaque is the least that we could do to honor those who have fought and died and given their lives for us, this body. Hanging this plaque is required by law, a law that was passed. We passed the law over 3 years ago.

Why is this plaque not up? That is a simple question. Why is this law being defied? That is a simple question.

Many of those officers have been left feeling ignored and betrayed by the very same Members of Congress. They stand outside every single day to protect and watch over us. They feel betrayed.

Many times, they can't even look at us as we walk out the door because they feel betrayed. They fought to protect us on that day, January 6, and, yes, we still betray them.

Former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell recently told our staff: Trump is treating the rioters like they were the ones defending the Capitol.

He went on to say of Trump: Calling January 6 ``a day of love,'' if that was a day of love, ``They almost `loved' me to death.''

If we really intend to support our officers, they should not be feeling this level of betrayal and disappointment in the government that they swore to defend and protect. Officers who put their lives on the line for us deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I will take a point of privilege to say that when I lost my son, Jordan, in Jacksonville, Florida, on November 23, 2012, at a convenience store gas station by a man who never should have had a gun, that convenience store family, the owners, at least had the decency to put a plaque up in remembrance of my slain son, who was simply stopping to get some chewing gum as he was going from one mall to the next with his friends. They at least had the decency, and my son wasn't doing anything to protect the Nation or protect Members of Congress. Yet and still, out of dignity and respect for someone who was slain unnecessarily, they at least had the decency to put up a plaque in remembrance of my son.

We should no less do that for these folks who stand here every single day. They would take bullets for us. Let's do the right thing. Why would we not honor them? We can't say one thing and do another, that we want to serve and protect them. We want to make their lives better. The American people are watching us. They are depending on us.

Mr. Speaker, let's do the right thing. Simply just put this plaque out for all of us, for their service to us and to this Nation.

Mr. Speaker, while I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, I also urge them to do more than just collect data and request reports from other officials. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 8 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Elfreth).

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

Mr. Speaker, I will just spend a little bit more time speaking. Not only are my colleagues apparently letting DOGE get away with terminating the Department of Justice grant programs, but they are also attempting to rob Federal law enforcement officers of their hard-earned retirement benefits.

I will put on the Record that, unlike other Federal employees, Federal law enforcement officers are eligible to retire voluntarily after serving our country for at least 20 years and reaching the age of 50 or after 25 years of service at any age.

Now, the Special Retirement Supplement for Federal officers provides roughly one-third of a Federal officer's retirement benefits, bridging the financial gap between when an officer chooses to retire and when they become eligible for Social Security at age 62.

This Special Retirement Supplement ensures financial stability for those who have dedicated their lives and their careers to protecting this country, but our Republican colleagues, their reconciliation bill, would limit the supplement only to those who reach the mandatory retirement age of 57 no matter how many years they have served.

It would also apply not just to new hires but to all officers, to those who clearly earned the ability to claim this benefit and didn't sign up for this new rule. The moment Trump signs the reconciliation bill into law, any officer that retires before reaching the age of 57 would lose one-third of their retirement benefits, making voluntary retirement untenable for every Federal law enforcement officer who is at or near retirement.

Cutting the supplement would have an immediate effect on the retention of overburdened, increasingly demoralized officers across the Federal Government, creating an overwhelming incentive for tens of thousands of eligible officers to retire before they plan to, before this change becomes law.

In closing, it is National Police Week, and we are honoring the brave men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line every single day to protect our communities and this Nation.

I was proud to vote ``yes'' on this resolution on the House floor yesterday to express our Nation's gratitude to our law enforcement. I would also like to thank all the families for their courage and strength because families of law enforcement are part of this, too.

As ranking member of the Crime Subcommittee, I hear directly from families and officers from all across the country about the reforms that they desperately need. I will continue to champion bills that provide tools that help our law enforcement officers and keep them all safe because they deserve that.

We stand with all of our officers around the country, whether they be Federal, State, or local, and we thank them for their service.

Though I really wish that we were doing so much more this week to make our officers safe or to invest in resources for their well-being, I will support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the very same. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin).

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

Mr. Speaker, as I have said earlier, while I do really support this legislation, I also call on my colleagues to stand with law enforcement by restoring these critical grants commemorating the bravery of our officers on January 6 and every day, protecting their pay, protecting their benefits, and all that the Federal officers have earned over the course of the time that they have served their communities and this country and ensuring that every Federal agency can continue to provide critical assistance to our State and local law enforcement.

We can do a lot better. They deserve so much better from us. Let's please work to do better.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this weekend marks a very important anniversary in our Nation's history. On May 18, we celebrate the 60th birthday of Head Start. I take this time to acknowledge the leaders and advocates from the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia's largest Head Start provider.

Through the years, my office has developed an outstanding partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta as we work hand in hand to serve our children. Next week, the supporters of Head Start from across Metropolitan Atlanta will gather to wish a happy birthday to this critically important Federal program.

Mr. Speaker, 60 years ago, President Lyndon Baines Johnson spoke from the Rose Garden to announce the opening of 2,000 child development centers across the country.

Project Head Start was developed as a community-driven initiative to ensure that children born into poverty would not remain there for the rest of their lives. In order to get a good head start on the future, children would receive preschool training to get them ready for school. They would receive medical and dental care. Their parents would receive counseling on how to provide the best environments for them at home.

Mr. Speaker, 60 years later, Head Start's legacy continues to make America proud. This Federal program has served nearly 40 million American children. From classrooms to the kitchen table, Head Start walks alongside our families and their young children to serve them through the four pillars of every Head Start program, from education, health services, family involvement, and wraparound services.

The benefits of Head Start are clear. Children who attend Head Start are more likely to complete high school and more likely to enroll and complete college. They are less likely to have run-ins with the law, less likely to enter foster care, and less likely to experience poor health.

I am proud to serve in Congress with notable Head Start alumni, such as my colleagues Representative Tony Gonzales, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Andre Carson, Jahana Hayes, and of course, Georgia's very own Senator Raphael Warnock.

Sadly, over the last 60 years, the transformational legacy of Project Head Start seems to have been forgotten and its future has faced recent threats by many of the Republican colleagues and the Trump administration. Just last month, a leaked Republican budget proposed a complete elimination of funding for Head Start. In Georgia alone, over 22,000 children would stand to lose out on the opportunity to participate in this life-changing and transformative program.

As a mother who fights for the safety and success of every child in America, I will not be silent in the face of these attacks. That is why I have been standing up and sounding the alarm, working to educate people back home about what these cuts would mean for our community, not only in Georgia but all across the Nation. Georgia is facing a childcare crisis. At a time when access to childcare is severely limited, cuts to Head Start would impact not just the lives of the children and their families but our entire communities.

Head Start is a core component of our local economy, and without access to this option, many parents would be forced out of their jobs. Head Start affords working families the peace of mind that their children will be safe, healthy, and well cared for during the day.

Just as President Johnson did, we are continuing to fight for investments and opportunities for our children so that they have the tools necessary to achieve their highest ambitions. Federal investment in the foundational development of our children must remain our national priority.

As we prepare to wish Head Start a happy 60th birthday, I call on all Georgians and all Americans across this country to take action and speak out in support of our children. What we do today matters a great deal for the future of our next generation.

It is my hope and my prayer that 60 years from now this body will be comprised of many more Head Start alumni, living proof that this program must continue.

Mr. Speaker, I thank so much my esteemed colleagues, Representative Kamlager-Dove and Representative Brown, for their leadership in tonight's CBC Special Order hour. It is the most opportune time for us to be able to talk directly to the American people about the truth of this White House and its administration.

Mr. Speaker, last week marked the first 100 days of the second Trump administration, and on behalf of my constituents in Georgia and an ever-growing number of American people, I am here tonight to continue speaking out against the chaos, the division, and the indefensible hatred that is being sown by this President and this administration.

Just over 100 days in and the American people are exceedingly worried and exhausted. They are exhausted by the uncertainty that has defined this Presidency. They are fatigued by the endless cascade of bad news from every corner of our Federal Government. They are bone weary by the fear of the impact these reckless actions continue to have on our working families.

For Black Americans, in particular, the Trump administration has made direct attacks on our communities and emboldened extreme hatred and bigotry. The symbolism of using the Presidency to eliminate foundational programs cannot be understated. He has used the most powerful office to dismantle foundational policies and scapegoat the American citizens.

These attacks have material consequences: The uncertainty surrounding the future of longstanding Federal programs harms the most vulnerable populations that we serve.

Just last week, I toured a Head Start site in my home State of Georgia and heard directly from parents and educators about the vital role these childcare programs play in supporting the economic success of families with young children. Head Start affords working families the peace of mind that their children will be cared for and educated during the workday.

Recent White House budget documents show that the administration has backed down, for now, in some of their attacks on Head Start and the resources that are helping our families, but we can't stop our advocacy until these programs are absolutely protected.

The continued actions of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, to dismantle the Federal workforce also have a devastatingly outsized impact on Black Americans. Federal Government work has long been a path to upward mobility for those seeking a career in public service and the elimination of tens of thousands of positions across our Federal workforce will continue to hurt families in our communities.

I grew up in the heart of the civil rights movement. As a child, I saw my father and my mother take a stand against those who legislated against our freedoms and our rights as Americans. Mr. Speaker, 60 years later, those same forces are animating the actions of this administration. We cannot afford to go back in time. Though I know so many across the country are dealing with the feelings of exhaustion and hopelessness, we cannot grow complacent. We cannot succumb to the forces of fear, hatred, and bigotry.

The work the Congressional Black Caucus and House Democrats are taking up just reinforces our resistance to the division that we are living and seeing at this very moment. Together, we are using every legislative tool at our disposal to fight back against these reckless actions.

Mr. Speaker, I, once again, want America to know that the Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus and all of the other tri-caucuses are fighting every single day for you. We are using our voices to speak up and sound the alarm on the harm this administration is causing communities all across this country and we are doing so with unflappable energy and determination.

As Democrats, we know that our light shines in the darkness and the darkness shall not overcome it. Just as I sang as a little girl during the civil

rights movement: ``Deep in my heart, I do believe that we shall overcome someday.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank my delegation colleague, Representative Johnson, for being the managing Member and for yielding to me this evening. I thank him for these moments tonight as we are in a very critical time, as my friend has been expressing before I came.

I thank Mr. Johnson's staff, as well, for taking the time and effort to put this together tonight and the Litigation Task Force for convening on the floor tonight.

I am proud to join my Democratic colleagues here to raise the alarm that this administration's actions are rapidly undermining our democracy and our justice system. However, Democrats continue to stand as the party of truth, the party of democracy, and the party of the American people.

While the Trump administration is emboldened to tear down foundational programs that keep Americans safe and gut the Department of Justice and our law enforcement, Democrats in Congress are holding this administration accountable and fighting so that our government works for every family, not just the richest in the world or the close friends and colleagues of the President.

I am here today not just as a public servant but as a mother who knows what it feels like to lose everything to gun violence, and I know this: Every family in America deserves the right to be safe at school, at the grocery store, and at home.

The Trump administration is making this much harder. This White House has worked to unwind the very protections that are designed to keep us safe. They have cut critical funding for gun

violence prevention programs at the Department of Justice and have weakened the ATF, making it easier for guns to fall into the wrong hands and for gun crimes to go unsolved. They even disbanded key initiatives that tracked domestic terrorism and hate crimes tied to gun violence.

These decisions are not just reckless. They are deadly, making it easier for violence to spread, for lives to be shattered, and for communities to keep on living in fear.

As a mother who lost her son to gun violence, let me be perfectly clear: The American people are crying out for the basic right to live safe from unnecessary gun violence. Americans want to send their children to school or to the mall without wondering if they will ever come home.

These egregious Trump administration cuts are a slap in the face to every family and every survivor of gun violence. In many cases, these rollbacks also make it more difficult for law enforcement to keep our communities safe.

Unfortunately, of all the disputes local officers are called to address, domestic violence incidents involving a gun are some of the most dangerous. The emotion and volatility during these incidents mean they can quickly turn deadly if a lethal weapon is present.

Instead of strengthening background checks and red flag laws to provide tools to our law enforcement, the Trump administration has weakened those crisis response tools that law enforcement depends on and drastically cut funding to police departments, putting our officers at risk.

I came to Congress to make our laws safer after I witnessed firsthand how fragile our justice system can be, and now I am determined, as we all should be, to protect our justice system so that perpetrators of crime and violence are actually held accountable.

There have been recent attacks on judges, as has been expressed by my colleague, Mr. Johnson. These attacks on our judges and the courts by the Trump administration should alarm every American. It will now become harder for families to seek accountability for crimes that are committed against them and for survivors to get the justice that they deserve.

Every American, no matter their background or the State that they live in, deserves to trust that when they walk into a courtroom, the law is fighting on their side. When our elected leaders belittle public-serving judges and bend the Department of Justice to serve their own interests, then they shatter that trust.

Families looking for answers, for protection, and for justice cannot afford to wait. Trust me, Mr. Speaker, I know. I have been one of those families. I know the stakes of receiving justice for a loved one, and they are just far too high.

I thank my colleagues for standing up. I thank Representative Johnson for standing up for the integrity of our democracy on behalf of those who rely upon it every single day.

Mr. Speaker, for those who are watching at home, I say this to them: You are simply not alone. House Democrats are fighting for you, and we will not let this administration undermine the very ideals of America and the fabric of our democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan) for yielding, and I thank the gentlewoman for anchoring this Special Order hour tonight on behalf of the CBC.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the Republican assault on every American's right to a quality public education in this country.

For decades, families have been promised the right to send their kids to good public schools, regardless of how much money they make or their child's disability. The actions of President Trump are a direct threat to making good on that promise, specifically for children with disabilities.

In February, parents in Georgia received this exact email, telling them that year-round counseling and support services meant to assist them and their disabled child in transitioning from high school to adulthood have been discontinued--overnight, in the middle of the school year.

As every parent knows, raising a child takes an incredible amount of planning and care, especially if your child has unique or special needs, and even more so if that child is one of color.

We would do anything for our children. The fact that a group of faceless government officials can go behind a parent's back and cancel programs that our kids rely on with no explanation is absolutely unacceptable.

It is more than wrong to pull the rug out from under families in the middle of the school year during one of the most formative times in a child's life, after recruiting and convincing them to participate in this program in the first place.

The Charting My Path for Future Success program was operating in 13 different districts across 11 States. It had actively recruited over 1,000 students with disabilities and their families, as well as 60 teachers, to take part in this program, some of whom uprooted their entire lives to be involved.

Seeing your child grow up to thrive, that is the goal of every parent. I have not met one parent in this country who didn't break their backs to make sure that they were offering their child every opportunity to be successful, and that takes on another level of significance when your child has autism, dyslexia, or another condition that makes learning even more difficult for them. It takes a different level of commitment, a different level of support, to ensure that they can reach the potential that all of us want to see fulfilled in our kids.

That is exactly what this program was doing before President Trump and Elon Musk actively decided that it was not worth continuing.

All too often it is, unfortunately, sink or swim for disabled students after high school in America. Students and their families are left behind despite being promised that their school would get their child on a path to success and independence.

Programs like these are the difference between students being successful in adulthood or regressing. They can be the difference between a lifetime on disability versus a good job that someone can actually raise a family on.

The President and Secretary McMahon claim that students with disabilities will not be affected by their plans to gut the Department, but they already are. Time and time again, they say one thing, and they do another. It is the American people and our students who are paying the price in this country every single day.

Emails like this, life-changing services for families being discontinued at random, this is the Trump-Musk plan for our children, and this is only the beginning.

The time is now for all Members in this body to speak up, to speak out, and to fight back against these attacks on our families in each and every one of our districts. It doesn't make a difference what district any of our colleagues are representing. All of our children are being affected. Every single one of us should be willing to stand up and fight back for our communities and fight back for our students before it is too late.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize the City of Douglasville on the occasion of its Sesquicentennial Birthday. For 150 years, Douglasville has contributed to the rich history of the state of Georgia, and I am honored to uplift today's remarkable milestone. Back home in my district, constituents will gather this evening at the Douglas County Museum of History & Art for a reflection on the history of the city and a celebration of the progress they hope to make in the future.

I want to commend Mayor Rochelle Robinson, the Douglasville City Council, and every resident who made this week's celebration possible. It is thanks to the devotion of public servants like them who make Douglasville such a wonderful community in which to live, work, and raise a family.

I congratulate the City of Douglasville on reaching 150 years, and Happy Birthday.