Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Jack Clark as he is inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Raised in Huntington Beach, California, Jack's remarkable athletic skills were apparent from a young age. He played offensive tackle at Orange Coast Junior College before transferring to UC Berkeley, where he played varsity football and rugby. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before shifting his focus toward rugby. He played for the U.S. national rugby team and was named Most Valuable Player in the 1979 Inter-Territorial Tournament/National Team Trials.

Jack has served as varsity rugby coach at Cal since 1984. During his tenure, he has led the team to 31 National Championships, and his coaching has produced 157 All-Americans. Jack is now in his 43rd season serving as head coach at Cal. Jack also coached the U.S. national rugby team from 1993 to 1999, earning 16 test victories with the team, the most victories ever by a U.S. National Team coach. He also led the United States to the 2003 Rugby World Cup during his tenure as the team's general manager.

Jack was inducted into the USA Rugby Hall of Fame, Orange Coast College Hall of Fame, and the California State Junior College Hall of Fame. He is also the first active coach to ever enter the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame.

Jack's mentorship has touched the lives of countless young athletes in the Bay Area and beyond. Our community takes great pride in honoring Jack's outstanding athletic skills and his legendary performance as Cal's head rugby coach. Please join me in recognizing Jack Clark upon his induction to the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Valerie Barone as she retires from the City of Concord.

Valerie has worked diligently to support Concord residents and city staff in her role as City Manager. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her steadfast commitment to service, starting her career as a Community Development Specialist with the U.S. Peace Corps, serving in the Philippines. In 2008, she joined the City of Concord as Assistant City Manager. She was appointed as interim City Manager in 2012 and began serving as City Manager in 2013.

During her tenure, Valerie worked tirelessly to build a vibrant community in the City of Concord and guided the city as it continued to grow and develop. She was critical in promoting the city's economic growth, helping to establish Visit Concord, turning the Toyota Pavilion into a revenue generator for the region, helping the city to invest $27 million provided through the American Rescue Plan to strengthen the city's infrastructure and nonprofits, overseeing the development of the Veranda shopping center, and fostering the city's cultural landscape by preserving Concord's Music and Market concerts and public art installations through Creative Concord. Additionally, Valerie championed numerous regional initiatives, allowing Concord to serve as a leader in programs such as the Central County Family Justice Center, the County's CORE Program, and the County's A3 program. Her leadership was critical as she guided the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and budget challenges, helping the city to stabilize its budget and driving infrastructure improvements throughout the city.

Valerie's leadership has been key in improving quality of life for Concord residents and helping the city to thrive. Her work has left an indelible impact on her neighbors and peers. Please join me in congratulating Valerie Barone on her retirement after 38 years of devoted public service.

Mr. Speaker, in 75 days, Trump's war has caused the deaths of over 2,000 innocent civilians, including 413 children and 15 American servicemembers.

Initially, President Trump called his actions in Iran a ``little excursion'' that would last a couple of weeks. Now he has acknowledged it is a war.

Last month, the President threatened a whole civilization to die.

This war has cost almost $30 billion to American taxpayers. It has caused the American inflation rate to rise to almost 4 percent. It has raised gas prices for hardworking Americans across this country.

President Trump does not have the power to declare war. This is a war, not an excursion. Only Congress can declare war.

We cannot continue to cede congressional authority to a President who acts like this.

I call on my Republican colleagues and leaders in Congress to stand up and push back against this reckless and corrupt President before any more lives are lost.

Pope Leo, a great American moral authority says: ``The future belongs to men and women of peace.'' I stand with the great American Pope Leo

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Steven Alfred Roberti. Throughout his life, Steven demonstrated his commitment to service and advocacy. Steven was a lifelong member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 302, where he honed his passion for serving his community and supporting the labor movement. He then went on to serve as manager of the Contra Costa Labor Council from 1988 to 1996. Steven was recognized by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors for his outstanding leadership and significant contributions to Contra Costa's economic and social wellbeing. In 1996, the U.S. Department of Labor appointed Steven the regional manager for Region IX, overseeing labor affairs across the Western United States. His wealth of knowledge of infrastructure and transportation policy was critical to his success in this role.

Steven also worked with many community groups including United Way, Shelter Inc., the Labor Project for Working Families and Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation. Steven's work as a political consultant supported regional projects focused on improving transportation throughout the county and supporting economic development throughout the region. Additionally, Steven was a California history enthusiast, avid Bay Area sports fan, holding season tickets for the San Francisco 49ers, Giants, and Golden State Warriors and supporting UC Berkeley's women's softball as a Cal Booster, and developed a passion for genealogy, tracing his family's history and eventually organizing an annual family reunion.

Steven is survived by his wife, Diane Roberti; daughters Christine Collins (Barry), Sherri Roberti, and Gina Roberti (Jeff); grandchildren Ryan Collins, Marcus Collins, Raquel Collins, and Joseph Wells; and great-grandchildren Ava Collins and Amaya Collins.

Steven will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to leadership, service, and his family. Please join me in honoring Steven A. Roberti for his invaluable contributions to our region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Lewis Broschard as he retires from his role as Fire Chief of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

Chief Broschard has demonstrated his steadfast commitment to advancing the District's mission of protecting residents and promoting public safety throughout the County. He has worked in fire service for over 29 years, having previously served in emergency operations, fire prevention, and executive leadership.

Chief Broschard joined the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District in 2007. During his time with the District, he sought to improve the organizational and operational systems in the District. Under his leadership, the District absorbed the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District, created the firefighting hand crew program, implemented a seasonal aerial firefighting helicopter program, introduced an apparatus replacement program, increased staffing in operations and fire prevention, and rebuilt multiple fire stations. Furthermore, during Chief Broschard's tenure, the regional fire dispatch center was expanded and modernized, 911 dispatcher staffing levels were increased, emergency ambulance operations were strengthened, and numerous health and wellness initiatives were launched. As Fire Chief, he leads one of the largest fire districts in the State of California.

Chief Broschard has also worked diligently to promote wildfire prevention and to prepare our community for the future. He supported significant wildfire mitigation projects across the county and oversaw formation of over 40 new Firewise communities. Additionally, he has worked to improve the District's Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, which reduces insurance costs for residents. Chief Broschard has worked tirelessly to educate residents and promote community safety while guiding the District through organizational growth and as it addressed historic wildfire seasons.

Please join me in congratulating Chief Broschard on his well-deserved retirement after 18 years of outstanding service to the District.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Mary Ann Halvorson.

Mary Ann continually found ways to give back to our community. She was born in Modesto, California, and earned her bachelor's degree in general curriculum from UC Berkeley. In 1970, Mary Ann joined the Mt. Diablo Hospital Volunteer Association, volunteering 21,500 hours over the span of 44 years. As a volunteer, she served as assistant manager, gift shop buyer, and led the association as president three times. Her volunteerism was critical in helping to raise funds for hospital improvements and scholarships. Mary Ann was committed to making a positive impact in our community and loved making friends along the way.

Mary Ann was also a devoted mother, wife, grandmother, and great grandmother. She enjoyed playing catch with her children and taking them to San Francisco Giants games at Candlestick Park. She inspired her family to face life's challenges with strong character and determination. Mary Ann is survived by her two sisters Ruth Beeve (Charlie) and Bettye Williams Benson, son Chris Halvorson (Annette), daughter Ann Wangan (Rob), nephews Rod Beeve (Mary) and Michal Beeve (Sonja), great nieces Danielle Beeve-Morris (Cassidy) and Jezerey Beeve (Esteban), one great great niece Jocelyn, and one great great nephew Miro.

Sadly, Mary Ann passed away on February 1, 2026. She will be remembered for her unwavering commitment to service and deep love for this community. Please join me in honoring Mary Ann Halvorson for her invaluable contributions to our community.

Mr. Speaker, we rise today to recognize the 150th Anniversary of Incorporation for the City of Martinez, California.

Often called the ``Bay Area's Hidden Gem,'' Martinez has been a city of economic prosperity and cultural influence for the last 150 years. During the Gold Rush, it became a key trading and transportation hub for gold searchers traveling through the Carquinez Strait. Legend has it, during this time the city became the birthplace of the Martini, cementing the city's name in culture. Martinez has served as the County Seat since 1851 and was incorporated on April 1, 1876.

In the late 1800s, Martinez was key in driving economic growth for the region, thanks to its thriving fishing and agriculture industries. The city was a major agricultural hub as settlers produced wine and planted fruit and nut orchards. It was also known for its successful fishing business, with two canneries opening in the city and thousands of pounds of fish being shipped around the world during this time. After the turn of the century, refining companies began operating in Martinez, serving as an industrial base and major employer for the region.

Martinez is also home to several notable residents, including Hall of Fame baseball player, Joe DiMaggio, and iconic conservationist, John Muir. John Muir, also referred to as the ``Father of the National Park Service'', shaped the creation of the U.S. National Park system and founded the Sierra Club. Muir lived in Martinez from 1880 until his death in 1914. Today, Muir's home is preserved as a National Historic Site.

Martinez has built a legacy as a major transportation and economic hub and played a critical role in California's development. Today, Martinez is known for its vibrant downtown and small-town charm. The city is also home to the largest bocce club in the country.

Please join us in celebrating the rich history of Martinez and recognizing Martinez, California on its 150th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the public service of John A. Burgh from the Contra Costa Water District Board of Directors after 22 years of dedicated service on behalf of residents of Contra Costa County.

John was appointed to the Contra Costa Water District in 2004, representing Division 2,

which includes Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Port Costa, and part of Concord. Throughout his tenure, he has provided critical leadership on numerous committees, including the Public Information & Conservation, Operations & Engineering, Finance, and the Retirement & OPEB Joint Advisory Committees. John currently serves as Chair of the Public Information & Conservation Committee.

As a retired engineer, John brought vital expertise to the Board, drawing on 42 years of experience working on water and wastewater projects throughout the world. Further, he has worked for an environmental engineering consulting firm for the last years 30 years, retiring from the firm as Vice President. John's wealth of knowledge has provided him with the tools necessary to guide the district as it prioritized regional collaboration, transparency in spending, and making evidence-based decisions that will benefit customers for generations to come.

Additionally, as a Concord resident for over 35 years, John has worked tirelessly to give back to our community and our country. He is a past President of the Contra Costa County Historical Society, a member of the Pleasant Hill Rotary Club and is a volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to senior citizens. John is also an Air Force veteran, serving our Nation with honor.

Please join me in thanking Director John A. Burgh for his dedicated service on the Contra Costa Water District Board and his steadfast commitment to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and service of Alfred ``Al'' G. Dessayer.

Al was born in Paris, France on August 26, 1939. His family immigrated to the United States in 1949, settling in Glendale, California. He then spent a year at UCLA before receiving an NROTC competitive appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Al served on destroyers

in the West Coast and graduated with the Class of 1961 as a member of the 15th Company.

Al served as the Town of Moraga's first treasurer and played a critical role in Moraga's efforts to incorporate in 1974. He also served as a planning commissioner between 1980 to 1981. In 1982, he was elected to the town council, holding a seat for 12 years. Al was a three-time Mayor of Moraga, holding the position in 1985, 1988, and 1993. Under his leadership, the Town was able to identify an opportunity to purchase excess land from the State, which resulted in the creation of Moraga Commons Park, a beloved staple of the Town today. He was instrumental in guiding the town as it grew and he continually showed his steadfast commitment to improving quality of life for Moraga residents.

Beyond his service in local government and on town council, Al was dedicated to giving back to our community. He was a member of Friends of the Moraga Library and the Moraga Historical Society, coached children's sports, led a local swim club, and served on the board of directors for Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (County Connection) for 34 years. Al was recognized as Moraga's Citizen of the Year in 1997 for his invaluable service in our community. In his free time, Al enjoyed traveling, visiting all 50 states and over 75 countries. He was also an avid golfer, gardener, and backpacker.

Sadly, Al passed away on February 25, 2026, at the age of 86. Please join us in honoring Al for his unwavering dedication to service, outstanding leadership, and for his invaluable contributions to our region.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of a friend and his service to his community in northern California and the community I am so privileged to represent in Contra Costa County.

Steven Roberti developed a love for service through his membership at a young age in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 302 in Martinez, California.

Steven served as manager of the Contra Costa Labor Council from 1988 to 1996 and was later appointed to serve as region 9 manager at the U.S. Department of Labor, overseeing labor affairs across the Western United States during the Obama administration.

Steven also worked for the United Way, Shelter Inc., and the Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation.

Steven was a staunch advocate for working people and will be remembered for his lasting impact on the labor movement in California and his dedicated public service.

Please join me in honoring this wonderful man's memory, a fighter for American workers, Steven Roberti.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the dedicated work of the staff that I get to work with and who work for me.

Mr. Speaker, I have served my community in the Bay Area as a city council member, a mayor, a county supervisor, State assembly member, a State senator, and now as a Member of the House of Representatives. In all of those years, one of the keys to our success and our engagement has been the dedicated public servants who have worked for me in all of those capacities. They are the people I will talk about today.

At community centers, healthcare clinics, schools, small businesses, townhalls, and more, our staff and I have encountered tens of thousands of Californians.

At these stops, I heard from families across California 10 about the urgent need to lower the cost of living and make everyday essentials more affordable. I heard from healthcare providers and patients about the looming harm of cuts from the big, ugly bill to Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, and the Affordable Care Act. I heard from students and teachers about the growing need for Federal support for education and specifically for special education.

I heard from seniors worried about threats to their Social Security and Medicare. Overwhelmingly, I heard from constituents about the deep concerns of the actions of the current administration, both here in our communities, in our country, and abroad.

Day in and day out, our team and I answered phones and read constituent emails and letters. Over the past year, we registered and responded to more than 170,000 constituent opinions in our district. When constituents call our offices here in Washington, in Walnut Creek, California, and Antioch, California, they speak to real people. We answer the phone. Sometimes that person is even me, which has led to some interesting conversations. Every single constituent receives a written response quickly.

One of the statistics that I am most proud of this year is that we hosted 23 townhalls. Under the lawlessness and the chaos of the current administration, townhalls and community meetings are more crucial than ever. Since coming to Congress, I have hosted almost 300 community townhalls. In 2025, we hosted more townhalls than in any prior year and connected with thousands of constituents across our community at these events.

Outside of townhalls, our team is still crisscrossing our district. They attended more than 370 community events in 2025 alone.

Sometimes, the only time people ever interact with their congressional Member's offices is because they need help desperately with a Federal agency. We are the last people they call desperately for help. Thanks to our casework team's compassion and persistence, we helped nearly 1,500 constituents in 2025, assisting with everything from immigration to Social Security.

Here in Washington, D.C., our legislative team was also hard at work. Last year, I authored 11 pieces of legislation and sponsored more than 200 bills. We used all of the tools at our disposal to hold the administration accountable in sending a voice for our constituents from 3,000 miles away here to this Chamber, sending dozens of oversight inquiries, joining amicus briefs, and more to protect our constituents.

Mr. Speaker, Tip O'Neill famously once said: ``All politics is local.'' I thank my staff for living that admonition from Speaker O'Neill.

Altogether, I hope this work helps people back home see that this House, Congress, even in the minority with this administration, can work hard for you. I look forward to continuing to serve you this coming year.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 51.

Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia for giving me this opportunity to speak, but also for his leadership. This is such an important discussion for Americans, and I think most Americans don't realize what a deliberate effort this was for years to take away their power and place it in the hands of the wealthiest and, unfortunately, the most obscenely greedy people in this country who think only they have the wisdom to govern.

I thank the gentleman for giving me the opportunity to highlight how Citizens United has impacted not just the political landscape and indeed this room but also our Nation, our culture, and certainly our economy.

With the floodgates opened by the Supreme Court in 2010, corporations and billionaires can now make unlimited independent expenditures. As a result, the wealthy few have even more outsized influence on our politics.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the 2017 Trump tax cuts overwhelmingly favored the rich. The lowest 20 percent of earners got an average tax break of only $70 while the top 1 percent of earners received over $61,000 in tax breaks, and the top tenth of a percent saw over $250,000 of tax breaks. This is on top of the situation where we have the largest concentration of wealth in the history of this country, making it more obscenely unfair.

Those same tax cuts lowered the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, which the Bipartisan Policy Center projected will increase the Federal deficit by almost $1 trillion dollars by fiscal year 2027.

Unsurprisingly, during the same period, billionaire spending on Presidential elections has skyrocketed, increasing from a total of $16 million before Citizens United was passed to over $2.6 billion in the years since Citizens United. What naive person would think that these people who contributed these obscene amounts of money did it for altruistic purposes? No, they did it for themselves. This is obscene greed. How much do they need?

When billionaires and corporations are able to spend unlimited amounts to influence the results of our elections, our elected officials are, in turn, unfortunately, more likely to respond by passing legislation that benefits corporations and the richest Americans while making life more expensive for middle-class Americans. If you are surprised about affordability, Mr. President, this is how real Americans have to live because of your policies and the people who preceded you.

Our Nation and the world are experiencing record levels of income inequality, and the impacts of Citizens United and other handouts to the obscenely rich and powerful are only making it worse.

It is past time that we change course and correct what has created this inequality. Compare it to the years of another Republican President, Dwight David Eisenhower, when we had the largest middle class in the country and the world in our history. Ironically, President Eisenhower said about working people, the labor movement: Only a fool--this is President Eisenhower--would come between an American worker and their ability to organize for other workers.

American voters deserve Representatives who will bring about positive change, not just cater to the interests of these obscenely wealthy donors and megacorporations. I am glad to be here today, and, again, I thank my colleague for doing this.

It is my belief America is about representing all of us, ordinary people as well as wealthy people. After all, are we a country of, by, and for Americans, or of, by, and for the obscenely wealthy?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding and for his leadership in opposition to this bill.

Environmental, social, and governance are factors that retirement plan fiduciaries may consider when making investments on behalf of retirement plans covered by ERISA. Factors that may fall within ESG include impact of the company's actions on climate change, working conditions, and employee safety at the company, and its management structure.

Weighing ESG factors when making investment decisions is not only more socially responsible, it is also more fiscally responsible for the type of long-term investments managed by retirement plan fiduciaries. Factors like sea level rise due to climate change, child labor violations, or track records for mistreating workers could cause unnecessary investment risks over time. Investors should be protected from those kinds of unethical management practices. That is why it should be considered a best practice for retirement plan professionals to appropriately weigh ESG factors--just weigh them.

Unfortunately, this bill would establish unnecessary barriers to retirement plan fiduciaries who want to consider these factors. This is despite the fact that even those fiduciaries who consider ESG factors are still required under ERISA to run plans solely in the best interest of participants and fiduciaries.

I filed an amendment to this bill that would permit plan fiduciaries to consider ESG factors when they make investment decisions, which aligns with the Biden administration's ESG rule that was upheld twice by Federal district courts before being abandoned by the Trump administration.

Crucially, my amendment would have also upheld core ERISA protections and explicitly ensured that fiduciaries do not sacrifice investment returns when they consider ESG factors. Unfortunately, House Republicans and House Republican leadership prevented the amendment from being approved in the committee.

Mr. Speaker, we should trust the professionals who are legally obligated to make prudent decisions on behalf of retirement plan participants, not undermine their ability to make sound investment decisions.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 2988. Once again, I thank the ranking member for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my outrage and ask my colleagues to join me in condemning the actions of the President when he pardoned so many of the individuals convicted after January 6.

At least 13 individuals who have been pardoned by President Trump have gone on to commit additional crimes, including sexual assault against a minor and a fatal DUI.

Instead of promoting accountability and rehabilitation, when possible, in our justice system, shouldn't the President and the majority look at these pardons and make sure that they accept the consequences of his actions and their actions by not ignoring them?

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in condemning the President's unvetted and ill-advised pardons that are leading to repeat offenses. Congress should be here to protect innocent Americans and not look away from the consequences of the President's actions.