Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, due to road closures I missed the vote on the previous question on H. Res. 1316. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 283.

Madam Chair, I missed the 1st vote of this series, coming from Committee. Had I been present, I would have voted No on Roll Call No. 285.

Mr. Speaker, the United States is recovering from the pandemic faster than any other industrialized nation. In fact, the World Bank expects the United States economy to grow significantly faster than they initially predicted, and our growth is fueling a worldwide economic recovery. Yet, prices remain stubbornly high for groceries, gas, and especially housing. Both realities are true.

One culprit of this is corporate profit-taking and greed because unemployment is low, our job market is strong, and inflation is cooling. Yet, prices are still up almost 19 percent since 2021.

Historically, in the years leading up to the pandemic, corporate profits were responsible for approximately 11 percent of price increases. Contrast that with the second and third quarters of 2023. Corporate profits were responsible for more than 50 percent of price increases. In the latest quarter of 2023, American corporate profits reached an all-time high of $2.8 trillion.

President Biden and congressional Democrats are working to address this manipulation head on, while my colleagues on the other side of the aisle propose tax cuts for the very corporations taking advantage.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to hear real solutions from the so-called leaders of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, this contempt resolution is the latest attempt to tear down our democracy. The Department of Justice has cooperated with congressional Republicans at every turn, but after 92,000 pages of documents, more than a dozen transcribed interviews, and a 250-page transcript that was verified, my colleagues still aren't satisfied.

They are doing this in service of one man, the disgraced former President, in a misguided attempt to distract from his crimes. On May 30, a jury of stranger-citizens found Mr. Trump guilty of 34 felony charges.

It is beyond disheartening that a former President and now potential Presidential candidate, again, was convicted of coordinating ``an unlawful conspiracy'' to win the 2016 election and falsifying records to cover his tryst with an adult porn star.

I am grateful that the rule of law prevailed, yet I am deeply concerned that our democratic institutions are under threat. Some of these attacks come from within.

Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan has said that a kangaroo court convicted President Trump, and Speaker Johnson called the trial a purely political exercise. Mr. Trump apparently pities himself as a so- called political prisoner.

All this is to tear down Americans' faith in the rule of law.

Contrary to his complaints, Mr. Trump was tried and treated fairly.

Justice was served in a courtroom that was open and filled with reporters and a jury that was chosen by the prosecution and defense. This is the rule of law at work.

Political rhetoric and deliberate misinformation, the likes of these and a dangerous many others, erode faith in our institutions and threaten the safety of the American people. These attacks undermine the rule of law, which stands to protect the rights of all people.

Mr. Speaker, when Attorney General Garland was before the Judiciary Committee, he described his career upholding the rule of law. In his own words, that means ensuring that ``we treat like cases alike: that we do not have enemies or friends, that we do not pay attention to the political parties or the wealth or the power or the influence of the people that we are investigating, that we follow the facts and the law. This is what distinguishes this country from our adversaries.''

Mr. Speaker, the judicial code of conduct advises that a United States judge should uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary and avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.

Just days after January 6, the Alitos flew an upside-down American flag, an image that sickened me, an image that was adopted as a Stop the Steal emblem. The United States Flag Code states that an upside- down flag can be displayed only as a signal of dire distress and instances of extreme danger to life or property. Dire distress is not a political dispute and not a political fight with your neighbor.

Justice Alito has served on the bench for 18 years. He knows better. No matter why the Alitos flew our flag in this disrespectful way, Justice Alito has failed to avoid impropriety and even the appearance of impropriety itself.

I call on Justice Alito to recuse himself from all cases involving January 6 and the 2020 election.

This Justice knows better.

Mr. Speaker, National Women's Health Week empowers women and girls to prioritize their unique health journeys.

A crucial part of that journey is education, prevention, and early detection for illness and disease, like ovarian cancer.

Globally, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women, most of whom are over 60 years old. In the United States, the American Cancer Society estimates that this year, more than 19,000 women will receive a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and more than 12,000 women will die from ovarian cancer.

It is a frequently missed or misdiagnosed disease, there is no routine screening, and it is not always included as part of an annual gynecological exam like other cancers of the female reproductive system.

I saw this firsthand with my mother's diagnosis and death, within just weeks of her diagnosis of ovarian cancer many years ago, how devastating ovarian cancer can be and how fast it can claim a loved one. We must do better for our mothers, our grandmothers, our grandchildren, our sisters, and our friends.

We must raise awareness, bolster research and education, and pass legislation that prioritizes women's healthcare and saves lives. Our health and our stories matter.

Honoring Rev. Dr. John E. Douglas

Mr. Speaker, I pause now to start with something that is of local color and recognizes a man of faith.

I rise today to recognize Reverend Dr. John E. Douglas of Antioch Baptist Church in North Hills, Pennsylvania, as he celebrates 30 years as a pastor.

I first met Pastor Douglas a dozen years ago when I served in the Pennsylvania House for Montgomery County. As I was still getting to know our district, he did not hesitate to welcome me to his church and to introduce me to his neighborhood, which perfectly encompassed his warmth and unwavering commitment to the Antioch community.

Each week, he faithfully leads his congregation in beautiful services with song, prayer, and a welcoming spirit to all. He is a man of family and of faith.

Yet, his devotion does not stop there. Pastor Douglas has made Antioch Baptist Church an integral part of the surrounding community as well, a home for town halls and community gatherings, again, where all are welcome, including me.

I am just one of the so many people who have been guided by his grace, his faith, his leadership, and his friendship, which will continue to grow and shape North Hills and the greater community for years to come.

Congratulations to Pastor Douglas on 30 years of hard work, faith, and joy. The Antioch family and I are blessed to know him.

Mr. Speaker, with Mother's Day coming, I am thinking about the one-in-a-million woman who raised my six siblings and me.

I have never before spoken about my mother on the House floor, but today I celebrate our beautiful mom, Mary Eaton Dean, here in a photo taken many years ago by my grandfather, William Dean.

Mary Dean was an only child who went on to become the mother of seven--five boys, two girls, one for every day's grace, and grandmother to 16. She gave freely of her kindness, her wisdom, and her friendship throughout our Glenside community.

Mary Dean was a woman of love. She loved our dad. She loved her life. She was a woman of faith, of adventure, and of loyalty. When our father, Bob Dean, died at 58, my mom was our anchor, determined to live the best life for herself and for us.

Mr. Speaker, I will say to my siblings, Bob, Harry, Michael, Jim, Chris, Maryann, aren't we lucky?

This Mother's Day, may we celebrate the mothers in our lives and honor those no longer with us knowing their lessons of love are forever imprinted on our hearts.

Madam Speaker, mere hours after this House finally passed critical security aid for our democratic allies, I found myself on a train in the countryside of war-torn Ukraine.

Along with a bipartisan group of colleagues, we were the first four Members of Congress to celebrate our bicameral accomplishment with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He shared with us that the world watched that vote, and he shared his gratitude, the gratitude of a President, of an army, and of a nation.

We were grounded by this victory and clear-eyed about victories yet to come. Ukraine must defeat Putin's illegal, barbaric assault on democracy. Our aid package will bolster their fight, providing training, equipment, and weapons to Ukraine, as well as replenishing our own U.S. weapons stock.

While abroad, we met with the Ukrainian military and our own 82nd Airborne Division. They told us they feel the weight of this struggle. They feel a sense of purpose, a sense of history, and their role in it.

By passing aid to Ukraine, Madam Speaker, we fulfill our American obligation to lead and meet our obligation to protect the health, safety, and security of democracies worldwide.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 474, the REPORT Act. I am pleased to cosponsor the House version of this legislation with my colleague and friend from Florida. I thank Representative Lee for her leadership on this bill. The REPORT Act would strengthen the ongoing collaboration between law enforcement and technology providers to combat sexual exploitation of children.

The exploitation of children through the proliferation of child sex abuse material, frequently referred to as CSAM, can be stopped only with cooperation across many different sectors of American society, from law enforcement to victims' groups to local leaders and technology providers.

The REPORT Act would enable this cooperation and encourage much greater reporting to the CyberTipline, operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, or NCMEC.

This legislation would also modify how photos and videos of child sex abuse are stored by providers, would change reporting requirements for platforms, and would give law enforcement more time to investigate these cases. By making updates to the law, the REPORT Act will help law enforcement evolve with the threat, as consumption of child sexual abuse content permeates new technology spaces.

Advancements in technology, from generative AI to social networking platforms, clearly benefit society. Technology has brought us cutting- edge medical and therapeutic breakthroughs, the ability to keep in touch with loved ones far away, and opportunities for budding entrepreneurs and artists who leverage technology to reach their audiences without costly barriers to entry.

However, there is also a dark side. Law enforcement experts and victims' advocates agree: Advancements in technology have led to an explosion of images depicting child sexual abuse available and distributed online.

Demand for new and more egregious photos and videos drives the market for this material, resulting in the continued grotesque abuse and exploitation of children.

Through their comprehensive efforts, the Internet Crimes Against Children, or ICAC, task forces, which represent more than 5,400 local, State, and Federal law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, are making progress in identifying and rescuing victims of child sex abuse material.

However, the growth of the problem continues to outpace the resources

available to identify and locate victims, especially since law enforcement, prosecutors, the tech industry, and other organization must continually contend with the emergence of new technologies, like AI, which further complicates their efforts.

Under the process for reporting child sexual abuse material today, electronic service providers, or companies that offer a platform through which users can communicate, are required to report instances of CSAM to the CyberTipline. After a tip is reported, the company works with NCMEC to share relevant information. NCMEC reviews the incoming reports and then refers them out to the appropriate law enforcement agency, typically a regional ICAC task force.

To date, NCMEC reports that the CyberTipline has received more than 92 million reports since it began in 1998, the majority of them from electronic communication service providers.

NCMEC's Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed more than 331 million images and videos. That is more than 25 million images each year. That is grotesque. While most children reflected in the images remain unknown, more than 19,300 victims have been identified.

I commend the successes of NCMEC and other law enforcement agencies in identifying and rescuing victims, but we cannot be satisfied while so many CSAM victims remain unidentified. That is why the REPORT Act is an important first step to increasing the effectiveness of CSAM reports and better protecting victims from child sexual abuse.

The Senate passed this bill by unanimous consent, with the support of law enforcement groups, the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children, or NCMEC, and technology providers. With passage of the bill today, the next stop will be President Biden's desk.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Lee for her extraordinary leadership to protect all of our children.

In conclusion, the REPORT Act takes an important step toward combating the proliferation of child sexual abuse material online and protecting victims from future abuse. I thank Representative Lee for her leadership in introducing the House version of this bill. I am proud to cosponsor it with her. I thank our Senate partners for sponsoring this legislation. This is about our children.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, together we are witness to war in the Middle East, yet so many of us are divided in our righteous anger and desire for peace.

At home, I speak with friends and family and constituents who want what is just. Nevertheless, I also see how we speak past each other, missing the common humanity of both Israelis and Palestinians, the innocent people on both sides who work, live, and play on lands now ravaged and scarred by war.

Let me be clear. I condemn Hamas, yet I decry Mr. Netanyahu's prosecution of this war. That is why I called for a bilateral cease- fire and a release of all remaining hostages in February.

I hold both beliefs, not as an equivalence or political spin, but as a principle to stand with the innocent, with Palestinians and Israelis who must know peace and security in their lifetime.

We must reject the far too tempting politics of hate and division and embrace the duty of peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.

In time warped by hate, I lean on my faith, the wisdom of the Beatitudes: ``Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.''

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

I stand by Israel and its right to defend itself and condemn in the strongest of terms Iran's direct attack on our ally. It is my hope that Israel listens to what many of its allies are saying and not take steps that lead us into a greater regional war.

As President Biden has said, our defense against Iranian threats to Israel is ironclad. We have Israel's back, and we will not yield to Iranian threats.

Madam Speaker, I support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the United States and Ukraine are at a crossroads. In their fight against Putin, Ukraine is rationing weapons. After 2 years of war, Ukraine is losing ground, ground that they had reclaimed from their aggressor as the Russian army grows stronger.

Still, Ukrainians fight for their freedom and fight for the future of Ukraine and of Europe. They fight for democracy itself.

Their fight is existential. Their fight is our fight, because what affects our European allies affects us, affects our security, affects our economy, and affects our very democracy.

America is the indispensable nation, yet some Republicans in this body are willing to squander our global strength to appease Mr. Putin or a former President.

We cannot allow extreme House Republicans to do the dirty work of Putin and Trump, because if we abandon Ukraine, we fail to protect a younger democracy, we jeopardize our own military readiness and national security, and we fail a crucial ally.

For 2 years, the United States, President Biden, has led more than 50 nations in supplying Ukraine what it needs to win.

We are at a crossroads. We must not stumble. We must stand strong and lead.

Mr. Speaker, this Women's History Month, I recognize two remarkable local entrepreneurs who are reimagining family farming with style, smarts, and sisterhood.

Hayley and Stephanie Painter run Painterland Farms, a fourth generation, regenerative, organic dairy farm in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.

Like so many other farmers, the Painter family's agricultural livelihood was threatened by a dwindling market, yet with grit and creativity, they found a new way to connect their Pennsylvania small business to a big audience.

Guided by their mission to help people understand their food sources, ``to know your farmer,'' Hayley and Stephanie created Painterland Sisters organic skyr yogurt in 2020.

Their yogurt and their story now reach far beyond our Commonwealth. In fact, Painterland Sisters is in all 50 States.

In recognition of their work, Hayley and Stephanie were honored by the Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2024 and were recently awarded Emerging Entrepreneur

of the Year at the National Products Expo West.

Still, the Painter sisters are more than just businesswomen. They are environmental activists dedicated to feeding communities and leaving the Commonwealth better for the next generation. Not to mention, their yogurt is delicious.

Mr. Speaker, last month marked 51 years since Roe v. Wade was decided, holding a women's fundamental right to privacy in their medical decisions. Women had the right to abortion because abortion care is healthcare.

Legal abortions have saved countless women's lives. Yet, after rightwing extremists spent 50 years pushing misinformation on abortion, our Supreme Court did their bidding and stripped away the rights and freedoms of women nationwide.

The far-right Court claimed the Dobbs decision would simply send the choice back to the States. Instead, it sent our Nation into chaos-- doctors unsure if they can help their patients, assault survivors unsure if they can go to the police, and women crossing State lines to save their own lives.

Like many of you, I am exhausted by politicians who claim to support women, support life, and then work to strip away access to contraception, fertility care, and gynecological health.

I am exhausted by the fact that my daughters-in-law and granddaughters

have fewer rights than I did. I am exhausted that Roe is gone.

Yet, we must not tire. No matter how long the fight, whether in this Congress or the next, we must restore a woman's right to legal abortion.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation's southern border and immigration systems are dysfunctional, and it has been this way for decades under multiple Presidents and under multiple Houses and Senates under both parties.

Hundreds of thousands of people cross our border every month. Our immigration courts are understaffed with an immense backlog of cases. Much of the fentanyl crossing the border comes through legal points of entry, 95 percent of which is brought by legal residents.

Mr. Speaker, where do we go from here?

We have to find real, bipartisan solutions for a secure border and a healthy, humane immigration process.

While our colleagues in the Senate seek solutions to both, our Republican majority seeks solutions to neither. They would rather keep this issue alive, scare their supporters, and serve the shadow government of the former President.

In the face of progress, they are stalling, orchestrating a sham impeachment, rather than making real policy; policies that could ensure a better funded Border Patrol, up-to-date fentanyl detection technology, well-staffed courts, and an immigration system that supports those seeking asylum, refuge, and opportunity, which is the very story and value of our Nation.