Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, it is the new year. Congress is back in session; students are back in school; and parents are preparing for the year ahead. For many families, that means figuring out childcare.

I remember when I was a young mother running a small law firm with two other women. Two of us were working mothers. We worked with our kids literally on our hips, and we were lucky to be able to do that. This isn't the case for millions of parents, and it shouldn't have to be.

Fourteen million parents rely on childcare, and daycare, on average, costs $11,000 per year. That is if parents can even find it.

It is often an impossible cycle. Parents can't find work if they can't secure childcare and can't pay for childcare without working, which is why we need to bring bills to the floor like the Child Care for Every Community Act. Under this bill, half of American families would pay no more than $10 a day for childcare.

High-quality, accessible, and affordable childcare deserves our attention and commitment this year and every year because it is good for our economy, good for parents and children, and good for our future.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Kaptur for all her extraordinary work for Ukraine many Congresses over and especially now since the brutal invasion.

Madam Speaker, it has been more than 650 days since Putin's illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine, the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. Today, President Zelenskyy visits the United States, yet again, to call upon us to continue to lead.

The United States, President Biden, has led a coalition of more than 50 nations to provide Ukraine with the resources to protect its people, its land, its democracy, its sovereignty. The United States is leading, and we cannot abandon Ukraine now.

The war has taken more than 22,000 of Ukraine's men, women, and children in the brutal, harshest ways as the Speaker Emerita just detailed. We cannot abandon Ukraine now because Ukraine's fight is our fight.

We must pass the supplemental funding package currently sitting in the Senate. It is unconscionable of us to go home for the holidays without doing that. Without it, we impede Ukraine's ability to win. At the same time, I hope everyone understands that we weaken our own military readiness and our own national security because not only does this legislation include crucial funding for ammunition and intelligence for Ukraine, but it invests in our own military--$43.6 billion to increase our weapons capacity, including $24.5 billion to replenish U.S. weaponry supply.

We must not abandon Ukraine now because to do so would be a failure to protect a young democracy; to do so would be a threat to our own military readiness, to our own national security; and to do so would be a failure of the United States to lead, and that is simply unacceptable. It is un-American.

Mr. Speaker, in just a few years we have had a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, a worldwide energy crisis, and as a result, the fastest inflation in 40 years.

The cost of living is too high, and the financial strain on American families is real.

Americans just needed help; so last Congress, Democrats took action:

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is creating 600,000 good- paying union jobs next year alone, with many more to follow.

The Chips and Science Act is bringing manufacturing back to the United States.

The Inflation Reduction Act is reducing the deficit and lowering household costs from energy to prescription drugs.

While we acted, Republicans parroted misleading talking points, falsely claiming that this legislation somehow hurts Americans.

Instead, America sees progress. Annual inflation fell to its lowest in more than 2\1/2\ years. Gas prices have declined nearly 40 percent. The IRS collected $122 million from wealthy tax evaders.

As we end this year better than we started, I urge House Republicans to reject the politics of disinformation and tearing down. Instead, join us and build this strong economy.

Madam Speaker, it is said that the Lord takes nothing out of season, and so in this season of Thanksgiving, I rise to give thanks for my big brother, Harry W. Dean.

After 74 years of life filled with adventure, love, and laughs, my brother Harry died on November 20.

Harry was the second eldest of our seven siblings, five boys and two girls; one for every day's grace, my parents proclaimed. We joked he was my mother's favorite. It turns out he was all of ours, too.

Harry was an exceptional athlete, a champion pole vaulter with a wicked fastball. He was effortlessly funny, a natural storyteller, king of the one-liners.

Harry was a Navy veteran, a good cook, a fisherman, surfer, a boater, a collector of cool and not-so-cool cars.

As we got older, Harry leaned into his quiet side. He was a careful collector of people, relics, and their memories.

He was a steward of our family's history, preserving the photos and legacies of those who came before. The same will be true for Harry.

Madam Speaker, in this season of Thanksgiving, Harry's brothers and sisters, alongside Claire; Adrienne, Joe; and his handsome, loving grandsons, Joey, AJ, and Jack, we are thankful for Harry. We are confident that we will see him on the other side. We love him.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Shirley Parker Curry, a passionate civic and community leader, dancer, ballet instructor, and loving friend from Jenkintown, who passed away on October 30.

It is bittersweet, yet beautifully fitting, to be honoring Shirley's life in this season of elections--especially this time of year. We miss her wisdom,

work ethic, and that determined twinkle in her eye.

Shirley was a lifelong activist, steadfast in her ideals and committed to democracy and good governance.

In 1960, Shirley spearheaded support for John F. Kennedy's campaign, alongside my mother-in-law, Joan Cunnane. There was a group of about a dozen who called themselves the ``Kennedy Girls.''

Because of Shirley, the Democratic community has grown large and vibrant. I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for Shirley asking me over and over: Run, Madeleine, for something. Many in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, say the same.

We are better because of Shirley. Her legacy, and the legacy of her beloved husband, Representative Larry Curry, will live on in Jenkintown and Cheltenham.

God bless her family; her children, Jennifer, Jeffery, and Jacquelyn; her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. God bless Shirley Curry.

Mr. Speaker, this past Monday, October 30, marked 11 years that my son, Harry, has been in long-term recovery from opioid addiction. Yet even now, I can still feel the fear, the worry, and hear the fights. What happened to our little boy? Where did his light and his gifts go?

The years of active addiction were very difficult for our family. Yet, when Harry finally accepted help, with all the courage and honesty that that takes, we got him into treatment immediately. We did it as a family.

I remember October 30 as much as I remember Harry's birthday, a rebirth, two lifetimes in one.

Back then, it was one week before I was elected to a full term in the Pennsylvania State house, and now, 11 years later, I stand on the floor of this House, lifting up my son's recovery, which is the story of so many others: the pain, the strength, the selflessness, the purpose.

Today, Harry is married, father of three, one of the strongest people I know, and helping others reach recovery. His story is the story of hope and possibilities. Let's dedicate ourselves to helping others find their own October 30.

Mr. Speaker, LaQuisha Anthony, a Philadelphia native, was an undergraduate track star at Kutztown University in my district. Horrifically, in her freshman year, she was sexually assaulted.

LaQuisha was forced to withdraw from her studies to focus on her recovery. She faced crushing student loan debt, and when repayments began, she ultimately defaulted.

Heartbreakingly, LaQuisha's story is not uncommon. Many survivors are not afforded enough time, space, or peace to heal. That is why I am reintroducing the Student Loan Deferment for Sex-Based Harassment Survivors Act to provide a compassionate, sensible exception to the student loan repayment policy.

This bill would allow survivors of sexual harassment, stalking, and assault to pause student loan payments for up to 3 years so they can focus on their mental and physical well-being. This pause is practical. Without it, many like LaQuisha are unable to return to school because of outstanding loans, but with time to heal, survivors can get a fresh start.

Today, LaQuisha is a dedicated advocate in preventing sexual assault and supporting survivors, including her support of this bill.

Let her work be our light. Let us pass this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, my husband and I have raised three hungry boys. I know how difficult and expensive it can be. Our government should not be making it any harder.

Yet, Republicans in this Chamber are working overtime to make it harder for families to receive SNAP benefits, putting more than 14 million children at risk of hunger.

Republicans talk about trusting parents and protecting our kids only when it fits their agenda, because when it comes to trusting parents to use programs like SNAP to feed their children, this Republican majority pushes for more regulation, less trust. We have seen this play out firsthand.

Under the last Congress, Democrats, our majority, expanded the child tax credit and cut child poverty in half. When it tragically ended, and every Republican refused to restore it, children plunged back into poverty.

As the Speaker's self-inflicted chaos inches us closer to a Federal budget deadline, it is clear: Our children are suffering because of the antics and extremism of the Republican majority.

Mr. Speaker, I urge this House majority to rethink their chaos, protect SNAP benefits, and lift all of our children out of poverty.

Mr. Speaker, it is a delight to be here with Mr. Hoyer and my colleagues tonight.

Last Congress was the most productive Congress since 1964. Democrats in the House and Senate, alongside the Biden administration, invested in America and in our communities.

The scope of the three bills--the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act--is immense for everyone everywhere. Whether your district is red, blue, or purple, these monumental laws will reach you and help transform where you live, where you work, and where you play into something greener and safer.

With the largest investment in our planet in our lifetime, we are reimagining the fight against the climate crisis. That means building more resilient roads and stronger bridges to withstand a changing climate. It means expanding our EV infrastructure. It means manufacturing. In Region 10, which I represent, these dollars will guide us from the Rust Belt to revitalization.

We are seeing this work already. In western Pennsylvania, in Representative Chris Deluzio's district, we have invested $3.5 million to connect Moon Township to a new economic hub that will create 1,900 construction jobs and generate $14 million annually for the community.

In Susan Wild's district in the northeast, we are investing more than $36 million to upgrade roads, highways, and bridges, like Cementon bridge, to better connect the Lehigh Valley.

In the entire southeastern region of Pennsylvania where I am from, we are investing more than $200 million to improve roadways, I-95, 676, the Boulevard, and Route 1. Our Commonwealth is becoming better connected.

The same can be said for West Virginia: $1.6 billion for its roads, bridges, public transit, and so much more, including I-64, connecting West Virginia's two largest cities, Charleston

and Huntington, making an hour commute safer and more efficient, making a huge difference for residents, commercial vehicles, and tourists who love West Virginia's wild and wonderful scenery.

The Federal Government is helping to fund an upgrade to I-64 that is long overdue; and because of our work, more than $26 million has already been dedicated to upgrade I-64, U.S. 35, and more to come.

Whether it is U.S. 35 or I-75, Ohio is using this Federal funding to upgrade their roads, as well. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur's district celebrated the reopening of DiSalle bridge, a newly built section of I- 75 in Toledo with the help of more than $12 million from the infrastructure law.

In northeast Ohio, my colleague Congresswoman Emilia Sykes' district has seen more than $25 million to upgrade highways, interchanges, and off-ramps.

In Congressman Greg Landsman's district, we are investing $1.6 billion into the Brent Spence bridge, ensuring safety. In a State like Ohio, upgrading roads and bridges means better connections that will grow its economy, ensure safety, and better prepare us for climate change, not just for communities in Ohio but for its neighbors, like Kentucky.

Speaking of Kentucky, it is the number one producer of cars, light trucks, and SUVs in our Nation. It is one of our Nation's leaders in electric vehicle battery parks. Look at that, a so-called red State is leading us in being green. Recently, EV battery plants in Kentucky, alongside neighboring Tennessee, received the largest Federal investment ever made to the auto industry.

Across Kentucky, like in my colleague Congressman Morgan McGarvey's district, officials are committed to smartly serving the growing hybrid and electric vehicle market. It is not just where we are driving, it is what we are driving. It is not only good for our planet, but it is good for jobs. EV manufacturing will provide more than 10,000 jobs for Kentuckians.

Whether a red State or a blue State, we are all in this moment together, a moment where we can once again transform our Nation into a powerhouse of manufacturing. That is what government is about. It is not about bickering or faux impeachment inquiries or shutting the government down. No. What we are doing with this impressive list of investments is showing that government can work and must work for the people, for our planet, and for our children.

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

Mr. Speaker, for decades, the United States and our allies have harbored grave concerns regarding Iran's ballistic missile program. Leading among those concerns is the fear that they are being developed to one day deploy a nuclear warhead. However, we have also experienced Iran's short- and medium-range missiles that pose a direct and deadly threat to American forces in the region and the territories of numerous allies and partners.

Iran currently has more than 3,000 ballistic missiles in its stockpile. In recent years, despite international pressure, these missiles have achieved a much greater range and accuracy. Iran has also supplied precision-guided missiles and drones to proxies in Lebanon and Syria. Iran's growing missile capabilities could one day allow it to threaten Europe and the United States' mainland directly.

Without a doubt, it is in the interest of the United States to prevent Iran from further expanding its missile capabilities. Today, global sanctions are in place which aim to limit Iran's missile program. They are found in the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, and unfortunately, they are set to expire in October of 2023. Russia and China's presence on the Security Council has made it impossible to negotiate an extension of these multilateral sanctions.

Mr. Speaker, in October, when the U.N. regulations expire, Iran would be free in the eyes of the U.N. to develop nuclear weapon delivery systems, including ICBMs that could reach the United States homeland. Let's be clear. Iran has never abided by the missile restrictions outlined in the Security

Council resolution, but when the sanctions expire, it would open the door for Iran to advance its missile program by utilizing technologies more freely from around the world.

Upon expiration of the sanctions, Iranian leaders will immediately gain access to items it cannot easily acquire domestically, such as gyroscopes, sensors, and numerous other sophisticated components necessary for modern ballistic missiles. Upon securing these technologies from abroad, Iran could begin to reverse engineer them and begin domestic production as it has done in the past.

That is why, together with our allies, we must act. I applaud the European Union for telling Iran they plan to retain their own EU, European Union, ballistic missile sanctions set to expire in October. Today we want to send Iran the message that the United States intends to do the same.

That is why we are considering this bipartisan legislation introduced by Chairman McCaul that imposes mandatory property blocking and visa sanctions on anyone involved in the supply, sale, or transfer of or support for Iran's missiles and drones. The legislation also requires the executive branch to submit a report on the Iranian missiles and drones to Congress, specifically outlining their strategy to counter this menace.

Mr. Speaker, there is near-global consensus that Iran should not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon or the missile that could help them carry one. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this important bipartisan legislation.

Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure. I thank Mr. McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

The threat of Iranian missiles and drones is real. The clock is ticking, and Congress, the United States Government, and the world at large needs to act. This bill is an important measure to prevent Iran from being able to acquire more sophisticated technology as a result of the expiring sanctions.

I thank Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Meeks for introducing this legislation, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this measure.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, there is no debate in Congress about the nature of the Iranian Government. The Supreme Leader of Iran murders, tortures, and abuses his own people. He denies Iranian citizens freedom and democracy. He guides proxy forces meant to destabilize numerous regional countries. He has threatened to wipe Israel off the map, and he is developing a nuclear program that has stockpiled enough highly enriched uranium for several nuclear warheads. I believe there must be costs associated with this behavior, and the United States is delivering those costs.

The Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability Act, or the MAHSA Act, is a bill that would require the President of the United States to determine whether high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic regime in Iran should be listed under existing U.S. sanctions for human rights abuses and support of terrorism. If an Iranian person or entity is found to meet these criteria, the legislation strongly encourages the executive branch to sanction that person or entity to the fullest extent of the law.

Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats understand the despicable nature of Iran's Supreme Leader and his regime and the need to hold them accountable. The Supreme Leader is currently sanctioned under executive order 13876 which blocks the property of the Supreme Leader and his office, as well as persons determined to have provided material support to the Supreme Leader or his office.

As of April 20, 2023, 112 persons have been designated for sanctions pursuant to this order--75 entities, 36 individuals, and one vessel.

Some of these designations were made by the Trump administration, and some have been made by the Biden administration. The Supreme Leader is fully cut off from the American financial system and is not allowed to travel to the United States.

Mr. Speaker, it is worth noting that other prominent Iranian leaders currently under strict American sanctions include President Raisi, two of Iran's vice presidents, and seven cabinet ministers, including the Ministers of Communication, Culture, Defense, Intelligence, Interior, and Petroleum. Companies and subsidiaries tied to the Supreme Leader in the sectors of energy, textiles, mining, chemicals, and financial services are all under strict sanctions.

Let me be clear: there are more sanctions on the Supreme Leader and his cronies today than there were 1\1/2\ years ago. Applying maximum pressure on the Supreme Leader is an entirely bipartisan priority. We must always do more. Enforcement can be tighter. Legislation with transparency mechanisms such as the MAHSA Act provide value to the Congress and our Iran policy oversight efforts.

During committee consideration of the MAHSA Act, I voted to move the bill to the floor despite having reservations that the text as currently drafted could damage national security waivers found in the underlying statute. Though the bill improved throughout the negotiations process with the majority, an amendment was offered, which was adopted over the committee Democrats' objections, that undermines some of the progress we achieved before markup.

During a future conference process with the Senate, we want to assure this legislative text will not harm any President's ability to adjust any potential national security event vis-a-vis Iran, including addressing the nuclear issue. We also hope to streamline the reporting requirements to make them feasible for OFAC and the Treasury Department to deliver to Congress.

We look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan manner on crafting a final bill that continues to put pressure on the Supreme Leader of Iran and those who support his nefarious efforts. In the meantime, I will vote to advance the current draft from the House in order to prepare for negotiations with the Senate.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, I will vote in support of this measure as it is crucial that we continue to pressure the Supreme Leader of Iran and his cronies and enablers, but I look forward to further refining the text with our Senate colleagues to make this the best bill possible.

Mr. Speaker, I also note that I join Chairman McCaul and Representative Doggett in acknowledging that it has been nearly 1 year since the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. We will always remember her global impact not just for the girls and women of Iran, but for girls and women all over the world.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 492, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, while the Congress is rightly concerned about Iran's nefarious nuclear program, its missile proliferation, and its destabilizing activities around the globe, we cannot forget those who continue to struggle for religious freedom and democracy in Iran.

Iran's Baha'i community has long been the target of severe religious persecution by the Iranian regime. Much of its informal leadership has been arrested and many members of the community executed. The Baha'i are not permitted to practice their religion and culture. Their marriages are not recognized, their dead cannot be buried according to Baha'i law, and their cemeteries are desecrated.

In addition, the Baha'i are denied government jobs and business licenses. They are not permitted to enroll in public universities and Baha'i schoolchildren are frequently harassed by classmates, teachers, and administrators.

No human being deserves this type of treatment and certainly not at the hands of their government. As has been noted in this House in the past, the social teaching of the Baha'i faith, such as the equality of women and men, and the principle of each individual's responsibility to investigate the truth, are impossible for theocratic leaders of Iran to comprehend; yet, these are universal values, human values, and they must be protected.

Mr. Speaker, the United States and the international community cannot and will not ignore the systematic and violent attacks against the Iranian Baha'i community, and Tehran must be held accountable.

By passing this resolution, once again, we continue to shine a light on the persecution of the Baha'i, and hopefully move us one step closer to the day that true freedom reaches Iran.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, the House of Representatives has passed this resolution in previous Congresses. We will pass this resolution today, and, if needed, we will pass this resolution again in the future.

We stand in solidarity with the persecuted Baha'i minority in Iran and demand the Iranian Government end its intolerable persecution of their people and religion.

Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous passage of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, last week another train derailment alarmed a Pennsylvania community. This time 15 CSX cars derailed in Whitemarsh Township in the heart of my district. Fortunately, no one was hurt and there was no environmental harm. Authorities believe it was due to a sinkhole after the area endured major flooding in the days before.

Whitemarsh is just another example of a train derailment, two in Pennsylvania this year, and, of course, the disaster in neighboring East Palestine, Ohio. This is a growing and alarming trend that cannot be overlooked.

These are different scenarios, but whether it is a repercussion of improper oversight or a consequence of growing climate crises, we must meet this moment.

Whether it is a sinkhole or overheated wheels, we must do better at monitoring freight trains and their rails because we rely upon our rails to feed us, heat and cool our homes, and bring other necessities. Many of these freight trains carry hazardous chemicals. These trains run through Pennsylvania neighborhoods directly threatening the safety of our residents.

In the face of this climate crisis, re-imagining and investing in America is what we must do. Investing in our infrastructure is vital, and that is exactly what we are doing. Freight trains are essential to our Nation and should never be a threat to our communities.

Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

I rise in opposition to H.R. 4366.

PFAS contamination is in my district, as in everyone else's district across this Nation. In my case, it is largely as a result of the legacy of firefighting foam used at what was Willow Grove Naval Air Base. My own brother worked there.

PFAS contamination, we know, is extremely dangerous, and I will say those who produced these chemicals for six decades have known of their danger and hid it for many, many years.

The brave men and women of our military were disproportionately highly exposed to rates of PFAS. More than 700 military bases have been contaminated with PFAS. The servicemembers that call these bases work or home have been continually exposed to these forever chemicals, as have their neighbors in the surrounding area.

We are still learning more and more about the health effects from this level of toxin; decreased fertility, increased risk of cancers, obesity, thyroid hormone disruption, just to name a few.

Congress and the White House have a responsibility to protect our current and future servicemembers from these toxins, as well as their neighbors. That is why the FY23 appropriations bill included an additional $200 million in dedicated funding for PFAS remediation and cleanup.

Unfortunately, this bill has no dedicated funding for PFAS and does not meet the President's funding request. Failing to address this widespread nationwide PFAS contamination on our military bases and the surrounding areas is failing our servicemembers.

Our military members stand up for us every single day. Today, we must stand up for them and all of our citizens by investing in PFAS research and remediation by rejecting this bill.

The Pennsylvania Constitution, article I, section 29, provides that we have a right to clean air, clean water, and the preservation of our natural aesthetic. Let's live up to that right.

Mr. Speaker, today, I want to lift the story of McClure, Pennsylvania, native Susan Renninger, or as her family calls her, Sue.

Sue is a loving mother and grandmother. She was diagnosed with lung cancer 6 years ago, yet she refused to let that hold her back. In the face of three rounds of chemo, eight rounds of radiation, Sue, an avid traveler, completed a remarkable feat seeing all 50 States, and she did not do it alone.

Sue's children, Heather and Eric; and her stepchildren, Kelly, Paula, and Karla, often joined her, filling this difficult time with adventure, memories, and an abundance of love.

Now, her 9-year-old granddaughter wants to do the same.

We as lawmakers have so much to learn from Sue: her resilience, her perseverance, her fight. We have an obligation to fight for the millions of Americans waging the battle with this devastating disease.

Now, in the midst of this budget season, there is no better time to dedicate funds to beat cancer once and for all. That is why I am advocating for more than $140 million in research to end cancer.

Let's support research. Let's support screenings early and often. Let's win this fight for Sue and everyone in all 50 States.