Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 48th anniversary of Black April.

I am proud to represent Orange County's Little Saigon, which is home to the largest population of Vietnamese in the world outside of Vietnam itself.

During Black April, we remember the fall of Saigon, those who served in Vietnam, and those who lost their lives fleeing communism.

The fall of the Republic of Vietnam is one of the greatest tragedies in modern history. It reminds us that freedom is not free. It reminds us that we are blessed to live in the greatest country in the world.

Today, I invite all of my colleagues to join me and stand with the Vietnamese community in Orange County and across the country during Black April.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to the Vietnamese Government's oppression of political opponents.

Last week, the Communist Party Government of Vietnam sentenced Nguyen Lan Thang to 6 years in prison for documenting protests and human rights abuses in Vietnam. Thang is a well-known advocate for freedom and democracy. He is a renowned blogger and contributor to Radio Free Asia. He should not be punished for criticizing communism.

This violation of the basic human rights of free expression is unacceptable and shows a worsening human rights situation in Vietnam.

According to Human Rights Watch, Vietnamese authorities have convicted at least 163 people since 2018 for exercising their rights to freedom of association or freedom of expression against Vietnam's Communist Party Government.

I have and will continue to call out the Communist Party of Vietnam for imprisoning journalists, human rights defenders, religious figures, and dissidents in Vietnam. The Chinese Communist Party has expertly influenced their neighbors, like Vietnam, hoping we will be silent in the face of these heinous acts.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in condemning Vietnam's continued horrific targeting of anyone who dissents from the oppressive Communist regime, and I urge Vietnam to release its political prisoners, including Mr. Thang and journalists like Pham Doan Trang.

We must come together, proclaim Communism as the evil that it is, and show the world that we will defend freedom.

Tax Day

Mr. Speaker, today is tax day, the deadline for over 200 million Americans to file their taxes.

Over the past year, responsible, hardworking families across the Nation created a budget, sacrificed to stick to that budget, and paid what they must by law to the government.

Meanwhile, their government spent taxpayer dollars recklessly, resulting in a national deficit that is over $31 trillion. That is approximately $250,000 per taxpayer.

My friends on the other side of the aisle claimed that they would close the gap by raising taxes and hiring an army of 87,000 new IRS agents to increase audits, especially on hardworking families making less than $100,000 a year.

Collecting more taxes from hardworking Americans will not fix the Federal Government's irresponsibility.

While California suffers from the highest income tax rate in the country, the State's reckless spending resulted in a deficit of $22.5 billion.

High taxes and reckless spending will not solve our Nation's problems. That is why the House of Representatives passed my bill with Representative Adrian Smith to defund the IRS's plan to hire 87,000 new agents. The IRS exists to serve the American people, not target them.

More taxes and more spending will only result in a higher deficit and a broken economy that will weigh on the backs of our children and grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 190th anniversary

of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, the first treaty between the United States and Thailand.

In fact, the historic agreement is distinguished as the first treaty between the United States and any Asian country.

Since its establishment, the relationship and cooperation between our two nations has thrived, providing benefits to both of our economies and national security.

That is why earlier this month I introduced the bipartisan resolution reaffirming our gratitude for our partnership and our continued commitment to building our friendship.

As we celebrate the anniversary of the historic treaty of 1833, let us also reaffirm our efforts to strengthen our strategic partnerships, promote democracy, and secure our interests in Asia and around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Fullerton College men's basketball team on winning the California Community College Athletic Association's State championship.

The Hornets beat the City College of San Francisco Rams by a score of 83-73.

The win marks the fifth time the Hornets have brought home the State title since the school basketball team was founded in 1927.

The game was an exciting one, rounding out the team's season record to 30-1 and concluding their 25-game win streak.

On behalf of the Fullerton community and the 45th Congressional District, I extend my warmest congratulations to the Hornets for this extraordinary accomplishment.

You make us all proud.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to celebrate Korean American Day marking the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States in 1903.

Those brave pioneers paved the way for generations of Korean Americans to make countless contributions to our great country.

Like so many before me, I came to this country with my family from

Korea. Now, I am living my American dream.

Today, we celebrate the strength of Korean-American communities like those in southern California. We recognize the power and impact of our achievements, and we honor the shared heritage of Korean Americans across our Nation.

As one of the first Korean-American woman to serve in Congress, I am proud to recognize this important day and to honor the millions of Korean Americans who have contributed so much to the success of the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act, and I am proud to co-lead this important legislation with the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith), my friend.

As millions of American families across the country struggle to afford basic goods, from food to fuel--in large part thanks to the inflation brought on by the absurd spending blowout of the last 2 years--the very last thing that taxpayers need is a bloated and weaponized IRS.

Unfortunately, that is exactly what they got when the administration rammed through $80 billion to hire 87,000 new IRS agents to harass and spy on middle-class and low-income families, with most of 1.2 million new additional audits.

The agency needs reform and modernization, but that is not what these billions in taxpayer dollars did. Of the $80 billion, only $3.2 billion was set aside for taxpayer services. Meanwhile, new audits and enforcement got $45 billion.

The job of the IRS is to serve taxpayers, not target them. That is why we must pass today's bill, which will rescind the IRS funding for enforcement while leaving in place the funding for improvements to customer service and technology.

Californians and all Americans deserve an accountable government and a strong economy. An accountable government is one that serves its citizens, not one that empowers bureaucrats to target taxpayers. We will never build an economy that is strong by weaponizing government agencies to cripple small businesses and employers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues who support an accountable government and a strong economy to vote ``yes'' on this legislation to empower American families, support small businesses, and protect taxpayers.

Madam Speaker, today I honor the career and service of one of my constituents. Erik Peterson has honorably served the people of Orange County, the State of California, and the United States of America for years.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Erik was first elected to the Huntington Beach City Council in 2014. He was reelected to the Council in 2018, and then served as the Mayor of Huntington Beach 2019 and 2020. As a Council Member, Erik served as the Director of both the Orange County Sanitation District and the Southern California Association of Governments.

Erik isn't just a dedicated public servant, but he is also a job creator. In 1999 he founded Intec Network Solutions, an electrical contracting company that specializes in keeping communities across California safe with commercial fire alarms and security.

He and his wife, Brandi, call Huntington Beach home and have raised their two sons there, actively participating in and contributing to their community.

People like Erik are at the heart of successful communities, and he has made Huntington Beach a better place with his service in both business and government. On behalf of all Orange County residents, I congratulate him on a job well-done and thank him for his years of commitment to Huntington Beach.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate a great citizen of Orange County, Irene Dorothy Schweitzer.

Yesterday, Irene turned 100 years old. She has been an active member of the community and has consistently given back.

Everyone who knows Irene knows how happy she is because of her million-dollar smile which absolutely lights up the room. Even at 100 years old, Irene never forgets a face, which makes everyone who meets her feel so special.

I have personally been so blessed to know her, and I am so thankful that we have a person as wonderful as her living in Southern California and making our community a brighter place to live. She truly makes the world a better place.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all of Orange County, I wish Irene a happy 100th birthday and wish her many more years of joy, blessings, and smiles.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life of one of my constituents. To Van Lai of Westminster lived a truly vibrant life and touched the lives of Vietnamese communities in Orange County and around the world.

After working as a university professor, To Van Lai established Thuy Nga Productions in Saigon, bringing the joy of music to the people of Vietnam.

When the communist government there banned his work, he took his company to France. There, he produced his most well-known and beloved work: Paris by Night, a renowned variety show that has brought Vietnamese entertainment to homes around the world.

Throughout his career, he valued the history, language, and tradition of the Vietnamese people.

He believed deeply that ``If you still have the Vietnamese language, then you still haven't lost the people.'' To Van Lai's life reminds us to treasure and honor the rich heritage and culture of our Vietnamese communities.

My prayers are with his family during this difficult time. May his memory of preserving the heritage of our Vietnamese neighbors live on, and may he rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of my constituents, and a dedicated public servant, for his efforts to protect taxpayers and his commitment to our community.

Since 2015, Michael Gates has served as the independently elected Huntington Beach City Attorney. He has been an effective advocate for law enforcement and worked to keep the citizens of Huntington Beach safe by leading the charge to fight local crime.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as Governor Newsom enacted unilateral and draconian restrictions, Mr. Gates worked to preserve local control of our world-class beaches.

He has upheld the rule of law, pushing back against the ``sanctuary state'' law that has made California especially vulnerable to the ongoing border crisis.

In all these ways and more, Michael Gates has proved to be a hardworking and effective advocate for the people of Huntington Beach, and for that, I thank him for his service to our community.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act.

Telehealth has been life changing for so many, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased access to telehealth has benefited a wide range of Americans, from seniors to high-risk patients.

We must ensure that the millions of Americans who have utilized flexibility provisions authorized during the pandemic do not lose their access to telemedicine.

Right now, regardless of where you live, you have access to telehealth and virtual care. This bill ensures that this can continue for millions of Americans, but we should ensure that this flexibility is permanent.

That is why I introduced legislation with Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Johnson to permanently remove any geographic restrictions on telehealth services.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support our legislation and to vote ``yes'' on today's bill so that we can continue to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare solutions.

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

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to support this bipartisan legislation that will help ensure students receive healthy school meals. Students need access to nutritious meals so that they can be their best, both in and out of the classroom. Today's bipartisan legislation does just that.

During pandemic lockdowns, school food programs were critical to those in need. These programs play an important role in non-pandemic times, too.

It is important that we ensure this program is sustainable for schools, and that means responsible oversight and a return to regular order.

We want to make sure that students who rely on school meals have access to them and that schools can continue to supply them, even in the face of skyrocketing, record-high inflation.

As our constituents know, the price of just about everything has increased. The average family is spending $450 more per month. Eggs are up 32 percent, milk is up 16 percent, and bacon is up 15 percent. Our school meals programs are no exception to these rising costs.

This measure will help schools cope with rising food prices by temporarily providing supplemental reimbursements as these programs transition back to normal operations.

I do think it is very important to emphasize that these increases are temporary and will last 1 year.

I appreciate the Democrats and the Senate for working with us to ensure these are temporary, supplemental funds to address inflation specifically. They are not an arbitrary increase in spending. Using the inflation crisis or the supply chain problem to increase Federal spending permanently would be especially unwise and irresponsible.

I also am glad the legislation requires USDA to provide school leaders and parents with support and guidance as the program transitions to normal operations.

It is Congress' job to ensure these programs are working as efficiently and effectively as possible. It is our duty to make sure these programs are fulfilling their intended purpose, which is to help students.

I am happy to see this legislation put these school nutrition programs back on the right track.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), Republican leader of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, the Keep Kids Fed Act is a bipartisan, budget-neutral bill that supports students and protects taxpayers. This bill will return our school nutrition programs back to normal, pre-pandemic operations. I appreciate the majority working with us to ensure this is a true transition back to regular operation, which is fully paid for and includes a requirement to support parents and school leaders.

This legislation will also support schools dealing with the supply chain and inflation crisis. This allows our Nation's schools to focus on delivering healthy meals for students so they can focus on being successful in the classroom. I am pleased we were able to come to a bicameral and bipartisan solution, and I urge my colleagues to vote for the Keep Kids Fed Act.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the service and career of one of my constituents, Matt Liffreing.

Whether with the City of Huntington Beach, or the chamber of commerce, his commitment to serving our community spans many roles

and more than 4 decades, where he recorded and reported the events of Huntington Beach.

Not only is he a lifelong Southern Californian, but he is truly a trailblazer in the field of cable journalism. With programs like his ``Local Cable Update. ``Made in Huntington Beach,'' and ``Surf City Highlights,'' Mr. Liffreing has brought everything from important current events to exciting local businesses to the airwaves, sharing the stories of our vibrant communities.

Today, on behalf of all Orange County, l want to thank Mr. Liffreing and congratulate him on his 40 years of service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, today, I stand with my fellow Orange County Representatives to honor the courage and sacrifice of one of my constituents.

On Sunday, Dr. John Cheng of Aliso Viejo drove his recently widowed mother to her church in Laguna Woods. They were attending a special lunch in honor of their pastor, who had just returned after 2 years in Taiwan.

Just after lunch, a gunman opened fire, and Dr. Cheng gave his life defending those around him. Local law enforcement agents said, without Dr. Cheng's courage, there would have been more casualties that day.

He was a beloved son, husband, father of two, and a respected physician. He was a hero.

We share our condolences with his family and stand here today to honor his life.

Please join us in a moment of silence to honor Dr. Cheng.

May he rest in peace, and may his courage never be forgotten.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7791, the Access to Baby Formula Act, a bipartisan bill I am proud to lead with my colleague from Connecticut.

The shortage of infant formula across the country has led to panic and desperation among so many families. As a parent, there is nothing more important than ensuring the health and safety of your child. As families continue to bear the brunt of crippling inflation, this formula shortage only compounds the stress that these families are facing at home.

It is estimated that the cost of baby formula is up almost 20 percent in the last year. More than 40 percent of the top-selling baby formula products were out of stock as of the beginning of this month. Families desperate to feed their babies shouldn't have to face empty shelves because of government mismanagement and overregulation.

We should have never gotten to this point, but this bipartisan legislation will provide certainty for recipients and manufacturers, ensuring this crisis doesn't happen again.

Under this bill, WIC participants and infant formula manufacturers will receive the clarity they need in the event of another emergency or supply chain disruption. The bill requires infant formula manufacturers to have a plan that will detail how they will address an emergency or disruption, so WIC participants aren't impacted.

Importantly, the bill also includes strict timelines so the companies and WIC participants will know the rules of the road during a disruption.

Finally, this bill includes important transparency requirements so the public will know what the administration is doing to remedy this crisis and prevent future disruptions. I am pleased that we were able to come together and put American families first.

Madam Speaker, families deserve to have this weight lifted off their shoulders. It is time to act and pass this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

It is undeniable that the nationwide baby formula shortage has created immense panic and desperation among families. From skyrocketing inflation and gas prices, to rising violent crime, the American people are being faced with crisis after crisis. The last thing families need right now is a shortage of such essential goods as baby formula.

In the United States of America, no parent should be unsure of how they will feed their infant child. We need to act today to reverse the effects of this shortage on American families, and the bipartisan bill before us today offers an opportunity to right this ship.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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