Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I briefly stepped out for personal reasons and was unable to make it back to the floor in time to vote on this bill. Had I been present, I would have voted yea on Roll Call No. 93.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on S. 3115, the POWER 2.0 Act. This bill is the Senate companion to my bill of the same title, H.R. 9113.

Both bills address the same flaw in our system, that survivors of intimate partner-related violence and intimidation often lack the legal resources they need to protect themselves from future injury. In this paradigm, victims are too often unable to escape their perpetrators, often to devastating effect.

Thankfully, in 2018, Congress offered an avenue to relief. The Pro bono Work to Empower and Represent Act, sponsored by my Senate colleague, Senator Sullivan, authorized a pilot project calling for each district court to hold at least one event annually in concert with domestic violence service providers to promote pro bono legal services for victims of partner-related violence and intimidation.

Additionally, to address the appalling victimization rates among Alaska

Natives and American Indians in particular, the bill also mandates partnerships between district courts and Tribes and Tribal organizations.

Since its enactment, the POWER Act has brought together dozens of service organizations and tens of thousands of lawyers, all with the aim of combating our skyrocketing rates of violence and intimidation endemic across many parts of our country.

As one of my first legislative actions in Congress, I am proud to introduce the POWER 2.0 Act. This bill removes the sunset on the POWER Act and will ensure more victims have the ability to protect themselves from further violence and intimidation.

I am both grateful and filled with anticipation to see this body act so uniformly in favor of this bill, S. 3115, today.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for providing consideration of my legislation today. I particularly want to share my appreciation with committee Chair Takano and Ranking Member Bost on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for moving quickly on this important issue for the 18 million veterans in our country.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak on a topic of vital importance to my State where veterans comprise about 10 percent of the population, and I know many veterans who face food insecurity.

This is my first bill as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, which is appropriate. There is nothing more important than ensuring our veterans and their families can enjoy a safe and healthy life after their service for our country.

This bill would create an Office of Food Security within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The office would be charged with providing information to veterans on the availability and eligibility requirements for Federal nutrition assistance programs. The office would work with other government agencies to implement policies to help veterans at risk or experiencing food insecurity.

A report just 4 months ago from the Center for Strategic and International Studies was clear, ``Food insecurity among U.S. veterans and military families is a national security concern: it multiplies stress on Active Duty personnel, diminishes well-being among servicemembers and their children--who are more likely to serve in the military as adults--and may hinder recruitment for the armed services.''

Madam Speaker, I know this bill will not solve the problem entirely, but I believe it can help in Alaska and throughout the country. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 8888.

Madam Speaker, I thank Leader Hoyer for the very kind introduction and most especially for his words about my predecessor, Congressman for all Alaska, Don Young.

I thank you, Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, and so many of my colleagues from both parties who have been very kind in welcoming me to the House of Representatives.

I am also so grateful to have my husband, my seven children and their loved ones, two grandchildren, and two sisters here with me this week. I couldn't do this without their love and support and votes.

It is the honor of my life to represent Alaska, a place my elders and ancestors have called home for thousands of years, where to this day many people in my community carry forward our traditions of hunting and fishing.

I am humbled and deeply honored to be the first Alaska Native to be elected to this body, the first woman to hold Alaska's House seat. But to be clear, I am here to represent all Alaskans. I will work every day to make all Alaskans proud that they have entrusted me to carry their voices here.

I am excited to work with all of you, to explain and take action to address Alaskans' needs, just as you did with my predecessor, the Congressman for all Alaska, Don Young.

Like all Alaskans, I mourned his passing. In Yupik, when we lose a loved one, we say ``this is not the end.'' ``Tua-i-ngunrituq.''

Don was a true institution, an Alaska icon, someone who fought so hard and so well for our State for 49 years. I know many of you loved Don, and I am sorry for your loss, too. I am committed to securing his legacy of bipartisanship and a deep respect for this institution. In my few days in Washington, I have already begun forming friendships with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Now, I might have a different approach than Don. You know how soft- spoken he was. But you will still be hearing all about Alaska, our people, and our State's unique needs.

I promised Alaskans I would fight for our families, to lower the cost of living that is pushing too many of us to the brink, to invest in high-quality childcare and early education, and to grow Alaska's economy with good jobs that pay a fair wage.

Resource development is important to Alaska's economy and our national energy security, and I look forward to working to ensure our State remains a global leader.

I also committed to fighting for our fish. For so many Alaska communities, fish are life. Our fish harvest is the best in the world. Half of the wild salmon sold in the world comes from our State, supporting good jobs that sustain strong communities. Subsistence fishing is not only an essential food source for so many Alaska families and communities, it is a sacred part of our traditions.

Again, thank you for your warm welcome. We have a lot to get done, and I am looking forward to getting to work.

``Thank you very much.'' ``Quyana cakneq.''