Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this month offers a joyful opportunity to celebrate the legendary love and leadership of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, as they mark their 77th wedding anniversary.

All Americans know of the greatness of President Carter, whose dignity, decency, and devoted public service has touched countless lives. Today, I rise to herald the many good works of First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a revered leader in her own right.

In a moment where there was real stigma against mental illness, Rosalynn Carter decided to make mental health one of her flagship issues.

As First Lady of Georgia, she was deeply moved by the stories of Georgians who shared their struggles with mental illness or caring for a family member with a mental illness. Those stories informed her service on the Governor's Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped, where many of her contributions were later implemented as policy.

These stories informed her service on the Governor's Commission to Improve Services for the Mentally and Emotionally Handicapped, as I said.

When her husband went to the White House, she served as honorary chair of the President's Commission on Mental Health, where the recommendations became the foundation for decades of change.

In her compelling testimony before Congress on the landmark Mental Health Systems Act, she declared:

``The mental health problems facing our country are the problems of all citizens.''

After leaving the White House, she founded the mental health policy initiative and mental health journalism fellowship at the Carter Center.

Alongside Betty Ford, she advocated for the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which ensures that reimbursements for mental health are the same as for physical health; mental or physical health, no distinction. Patrick Kennedy in our House was such an important leader on this.

The same boundless compassion also fueled the First Lady's fervent commitment to our Nation's caregivers. She has devoted herself to bringing support and attention to tens of millions of families and professional caregivers across the country.

For 36 years, the Georgia Southwestern State University Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving has advocated for policies to support their work. She even wrote a handbook for caregivers: ``Helping Yourself Help Others.''

At the same time, First Lady Carter has lent her voice to so many causes: From childhood immunization, especially among vulnerable communities, to gender justice, as she fought to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

Beloved at home, First Lady Carter was also deeply respected abroad. All are in awe of her historic visit to Latin America in 1977, where she championed human rights, democracy, and a new chapter of engagement in the region.

With her characteristic grace and grit, she embraced this high-stakes diplomatic mission: Meeting with heads of state and speaking with authority as an emissary for our Nation.

With her characteristic grace and grit, again, 2 years later, Rosalynn Carter made history as the first sitting First Lady to address the World Health Organization, when she shared her mental health findings. In her memorable remarks, she argued that mental health was an aspect of physical health, and that healthcare is a human right.

Since, through the Carter Center, she has helped strengthen mental health care in Liberia: Caring for people exposed to the stress of conflict, while training community workers to identify signs of mental illness.

Personally, it was my special privilege 2 years ago to travel to Plains to join in celebrating the Carter's 75th wedding anniversary, a marvelous celebration of their eternal love and limitless partnership.

Rosalynn has long been Jimmy's closest friend and confidant, and the Carter Center will forever stand as a testament to the true partnership in service that the Carters share.

God has truly blessed America with the leadership of the Carters, and our grateful Nation salutes them for their lives well-lived.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his great presentation today.

Today, we are on the floor of the House where the other side has turned this Chamber where slavery was abolished, where Medicare and Social Security and everything were instituted, into a puppet show.

Do you know what? The puppeteer, Donald Trump, is shining a light on the strings. You look miserable. You look miserable.

The only advantage to all of this is that instead of reversing what we did on the IRA to save the planet or reversing what we did to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, we are wasting time.

Madam Speaker, this weekend, our Nation will solemnly observe Memorial Day to honor our fallen heroes and their families.

Instead of this honoring of our veterans, shamefully, the Republicans across the aisle will spend the weekend working to impose suffering on our valiant veterans.

The Republicans have forced Americans down a treacherous path to accept their extreme proposal, which would eliminate 30 million health visits for our veterans and slash revenues at the VA.

It would trigger a catastrophic default, which would force our Nation to stiff veterans on the benefits they have earned. That also applies to the effect it would have on America's middle class.

All this is for the Republicans to pass another massive tax cut, which they will do in a matter of weeks. That is their plan, to do it by the birthday of the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, June 16.

Trillions of dollars will be added to the national debt to give tax breaks to the high end at the cost of the suffering of our veterans.

It is disgraceful. Republicans must stay here and not skip town, work to avoid a default, and honor the sacred duty of our veterans as we observe Memorial Day.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank

you for bringing us together so that we can pay our respects and gratitude to the great Congressman from Rhode Island.

On a personal note, just listening to his comments there, he and Congresswoman DeLauro have a competition about pizza. They don't know that most people come to San Francisco to learn how to make pizza. I say that in sharing the pride we take in our Italian-American heritage, and the knowledge that we have about food.

In any event, I thank Mr. Cicilline for his great leadership in this Congress. He has been a champion on policy issues. He spelled them out here.

I will never forget the day that he joined John Lewis, Katherine Clark, John Larson, and others, to have a sit-in on the floor of the House.

Mr. Speaker, they did not tell us that they were doing this because as leadership we would have said you are not allowed to do that. They could anticipate that I might say that. They just protected the leadership from having to make that statement, and they launched their sit-in on the floor of the House.

It was very successful because, by coincidence, we had planned a rally about gun violence prevention, and they were having a sit-in on gun violence prevention on the floor of the House.

The whole world found out about it because Mr. Takano spread the word through his telephone, even though the Republicans turned out the lights in the House and nobody could see what was going on in here. He spread the word through his telephone. Actually, it became a sit-in heard around the world. I thank Mr. Takano, John Lewis, and Mr. Cicilline.

You heard him talk about the issues and the knowledge he has about them, the judgment he has about prioritizing and the legislative strategic thinking of trying, in the most possible way, to be bipartisan and to be transparent and to be accountable.

Representative is a job title Mr. Cicilline has. It is his title, and it is his job description for representing the people of Rhode Island. He loves his district. He loves his State. He loves his country.

By being a Representative, coming to the floor and speaking for those people, every time he did, he did so with great pride. Again, he is a man of many issues and many talents. He also has many ethnicities.

When he came, I thought, oh, good, we have more Italian Americans in the Congress. I would see him at the Italian-American events. When I would go to Jewish events, he would be there as a Jewish Member of Congress. Of course, there was the LGBTQ+ community. So he was a man for all seasons, all ethnicities, all orientations. That made him a very great Representative for our entire country across the board.

There are many Members who want time to sing the praises of this great man. I have many stories I could tell about how, in his role as leader in our Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, DPCC, he made our message more effective, by how he gave guidance to Members and how he mentored others after they came here.

I give him some points for having been the mayor of Providence because when you are mayor you are a manager, you have to get things done. He brought that administrative skill to a legislative job, and we all benefited from it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Magaziner for yielding time. As I say, we all have a lot to say about David Cicilline, and we will take other opportunities to do so. For tonight, I not only thank him for his leadership but for his leadership in this body and the rest. For the beautiful presentation he made about our country this evening, his patriotism, his service, his call to duty, and his being so effective in doing all of the above, I thank Mr. Cicilline.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with overwhelming joy today in celebration of the fortieth anniversary of a beloved and iconic institution in my home City, SFJAZZ.

What began as a two-night Jazz in the City festival four decades ago has blossomed into one of our community's most cherished cultural wonders and a true national treasure. All are in awe of its world-class programming: producing more than 450 concerts every year, featuring artists from the Bay Area, from across America and from around the world. Through its committed focus on outreach and education, including the award-winning High School All-Stars initiative, SFJAZZ is also helping to foster the next generation of musical excellence.

Personally, it was my privilege to attend the grand opening of the SFJAZZ Center ten years ago--another special anniversary that we celebrate this year. This magnificent, state-of-the-art concert hall has quickly become our Nation's premier hub for jazz: not only a venue to enjoy glorious music, but also a training ground for young musicians to study their craft.

When the COVID pandemic struck, SFJAZZ swiftly pivoted to digital programming--lifting spirits by bringing beautiful music directly into people's homes, while helping keep our families safe. At the same time, through the SFJAZZ 50/50 Fund, the organization helped channel donations directly to artists during a difficult moment for the live entertainment industry.

As SFJAZZ marks four decades, San Franciscans--and all Americans-- give thanks for the joy, beauty and vibrancy it continues to bring to our lives.

Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to pay tribute to Randall Kline: the visionary leader of SFJAZZ who made so much of its success possible and who is stepping down as Executive Artistic Director after an extraordinary forty-year career.

Randall's story is the stuff of legend: first hitch-hiking to San Francisco in 1974, then putting down roots by the Bay with just $600 in his pocket, a bass and a dream. With a relentless work ethic and an inexhaustible imagination, he has transformed SFJAZZ from a community- based organization into a globally revered jazz powerhouse.

Our Nation owes him a debt of gratitude for the towering role that he has played in preserving and promoting an all-American art form. So, it is only fitting that Randall is honored with the SFJAZZ Lifetime Achievement Award, as his leadership has left an indelible mark on the cultural fabric of our City, our Country and our world.

On behalf of Randall's many friends in the Bay Area and beyond, we salute his four decades of dedicated service to our City and send best wishes on this joyful occasion as he prepares for his next adventure.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Boyle and Mr. Richie Neal for their leadership in bringing our side of the story to this.

And what is that?

I thank the Republicans for the clarity with which they have put forth their default on America act because their default on America act will do just this.

When you vote for this bill, you will vote to:

Put veterans' healthcare at risk, eliminating up to 30 million healthcare visits for our veterans.

Slash Pell grants for tens of thousands of students.

Rip away food assistance for women, infants, and children, a million of them, a million seniors off of Meals on Wheels.

Pollute the planet by overturning what we did to save the planet with green tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Cut $8 billion in law enforcement from State, local, and Federal law enforcement, pulling cops off the street, and up to 700,000 fewer jobs to be created.

Certainly, we negotiate over the appropriations bills. I am an appropriator, and for 20 years I have been in 19 engagements of the debt ceiling kind. Whether we lift the debt ceiling is a question of whether we honor the Constitution that says the full faith and credit of America shall not be in doubt.

When you use that as a wedge, as President Trump admonished you not to, you are placing in doubt our credit rating and what that means to American people on their credit card bills

and at the kitchen table. You are playing with fire.

We have been down this road before. When the former President was President, three times we lifted the debt ceiling, never placing in doubt the full faith and credit of the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on this important committee and for giving all of us the opportunity to express our support for the District of Columbia.

I come to the floor with great pride on this. As Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton knows, I take pride in the fact that my father, when he was a Member of Congress many, many years ago from Baltimore, was the chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the District of Columbia.

He was a big supporter of home rule which didn't exist at that time and then, of course, we saw home rule, then we saw Mayor, and we see the District of Columbia. Now our aspiration for statehood has always been but continues to be.

So when we hear this debate on the floor, what are we talking about here?

Has this become the city council of the District of Columbia that we are debating issues?

That is up to the District of Columbia. What we do is respect their ability to make their own rules whether we like them or not.

So the point is that this is sort of a gotcha kind of an amendment that I think is most unfortunate and unworthy of the debate on statehood and representation for the people in the District of Columbia who fight our wars, pay our taxes, contribute to the greatness of our country, but do not have representation in the Congress of the United States and fall victim to any criticism of their individual legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership for fairness and safety in our schools and for justice in our communities.

I stand here today in opposition to the legislation that is on the floor. In listening carefully to the maker of the motion, he references a religious context in his comments, and so will I, then, following his lead.

Yes, we are all God's children. We all have a spark of divinity in us, and therefore, are worthy of respect. That spark of divinity that is within us insists that we respect it in others, as well.

So recognizing that we are all God's children, I rise in opposition to this legislation because trans kids are all God's children; belong in sports, in schools, in books, in families, and on teams.

It is really important for us as leaders in our country to speak with respect for all of the people in our country.

Trans kids listen and hear what we say, and we do not want to do them harm for whatever purpose on the floor of this House.

The gentleman also referenced Title IX. While none of us were probably here when Patsy Mink very courageously passed Title IX, many of us were here as we reauthorized it over time and fought off, fought off initiatives to weaken it to say that in supporting women in sports was taking away from men in sports. That is simply not the case.

I will say that this bill is an insult to the legacy of fairness and inclusion that Patsy Mink intended, and was passed by the House and the Congress in Title IX; Senator Birch Bayh, the Senator from Indiana.

So I say let every child, regardless of gender identity, deserve a chance to be part of a team, to learn lessons of sportsmanship, to push themselves to reach their fullest potential and vote ``no'' against this legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I thank him for his great leadership in opposing this reckless legislation that is on the floor today.

I thank Mr. Grijalva for his leadership, as well as our ranking member on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Mr. Larsen, for their setting the record straight in the different categories of this legislation.

The gentleman from New Jersey just set the record straight again. I thank the gentleman so much for giving a history lesson to some in this room who may not remember the course of events that has taken us to this place.

Today, Mr. Chairman, I rise to join in sounding the alarm, a five- alarm climate emergency, which is the existential threat of our time.

Many of our colleagues, including our distinguished ranking members, have gone into detail about opposition to this bill. I want to focus on the climate aspect.

It was with pride during my term as Speaker that House Democrats made climate our flagship issue. When we enacted the Inflation Reduction Act, our Nation took a landmark step to rescue our planet. Yet, our progress stands in sharp contrast to the reckless Republican bill before us, which, on every score, puts polluters first.

We know that climate is a health issue. The gentleman referenced that in his comments. While Democrats are slashing pollution to preserve clean air and water, this bill guts bedrock health protections to fast- track polluter projects.

Climate is an economic issue. While Democrats are creating jobs and lowering energy costs, this bill gives $2.4 billion in handouts to the biggest polluters.

Climate is a national security issue. While Democrats are declaring America's energy independence, this bill seeks to keep us at the mercy of oil-rich dictators.

Finally, climate is a moral issue. While Democrats are honoring our obligation to pass on a healthy planet to our children and grandchildren, this bill is nothing short of a dereliction of duty.

It is God's creation. We are religious people here in this body, right? It is God's creation. Don't we have a responsibility to be good stewards of God's creation?

The climate emergency is putting lives at risk right now, with extreme weather pillaging communities that you represent and hitting families at the kitchen table.

With this legislation, Republicans have chosen to ignore the needs of America's working families. Instead, Republicans are putting polluters over people.

For the planet, and for the children, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 5229, legislation to:

remove the bust of Roger Taney from the United States Capitol

and commission a new statue honoring Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Let us salute those who have fought for this action in the House:

Leader Steny Hoyer

Whip Jim Clyburn

CBC Chair Joyce Beatty

Chair Bennie Thompson

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Congressman G. K. Butterfield and our former colleague, Mayor Karen Bass.

Driven by their leadership, this Chamber has proudly and repeatedly voted to remove statues of Taney, Confederate officials and other advocates of bigotry from the Capitol grounds.

The House is grateful to the Senate for taking an important step forward--voting unanimously to remove this vile tribute to Taney-- author of the horrendous Dred Scott ruling.

We look forward to swiftly sending this bill to the President's desk, and we remain committed to sweeping out other vestiges of hate from the halls of Congress.

This building is a Temple of Democracy. It is a monument to our nation's most fundamental ideals.

It reflects all that we take pride in as a nation--and so too should the tributes that grace its halls.

They should honor those who sought to strengthen our Democracy for all--not weaken it in favor of a few.

They should honor those who fought to expand freedom--not restrict its blessings.

There is no room for celebrating the violent, racist atrocities of our past--nor those who championed them.

That is why, in 2020, I proudly ordered the removal of the portraits of four Speakers who traitorously served in the Confederacy.

It is why the House has voted to remove Confederate statues from the Capitol.

And it is why we have made clear again and again that Roger Taney must have no place under this sacred roof.

Taney's legacy is one of hatred and oppression:

a mind twisted by bigotry

and a lifetime spent defending the evils of slavery.

He is inextricably linked to one of the most horrific chapters of our history. And yet, this bigot's likeness still casts a shadow over the Old Supreme Court Chamber.

Who better to replace him than one of the most admired jurists of our history: Justice Thurgood Marshall.

A trailblazing champion of civil rights--a voice for equal justice under the law and a force for our Democracy--Justice Marshall sought to uphold the best of America.

Personally, I will be deeply proud to see this Baltimore native take his rightful place amid the Capitol's pantheon of great American patriots.

His statue will bring luster to this building, just as his legacy continues to bring luster to our nation: guiding America toward the future our children deserve--one ruled by understanding, not prejudice.

Indeed, speaking in Philadelphia's Independence Hall three decades ago, Justice Marshall warned:

``Democracy cannot flourish amid fear. Liberty cannot bloom amid hate. Justice cannot take root amid rage.''

Today, the Congress honors those words. With this vote, we toss into the dustbin of history a monument to fear--to hate--to rage.

With this vote, we renew our resolve to ensure that:

Democracy will flourish

liberty will bloom

and justice will take root, from sea to shining sea.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a resounding, bipartisan `aye' vote to finally send this bill to the President for signature.

Thank you all. Good morning, my friends. It is wonderful to be here with you. Thank you for the recognition. L.F. Payne, thank you for keeping this going and for your leadership. It was an honor to serve with you in the House--each and every one--I think I served with all of you, certainly Jane, Donna, and Mr. Secretary of so many titles. To all of you, welcome back to the Chamber.

It is an interesting time, a busy time. Something that binds us all together is the oath that we take to the Constitution of the United States, regardless of party, regardless of the aisle, we are united in that oath to the Constitution.

I thank you for so much that you are doing in terms of Congress to Campus and the beautiful ceremony you have each year honoring those who have gone on to heaven--I assume--having served in the Congress.

We just lost--a week and a half ago--Mr. McEachin. I mention him because of his recent departure, but also, he said something very beautiful on his first speech on the floor of the House. He quoted Christ's first sermon. Imagine that. Christ's first sermon.

I will read this to you, so you know I did not make this up. Mr. McEachin cited during his first speech the words of Jesus' first sermon, ``The spirit of the Lord is upon me to bring good news to the poor.'' Imagine. Imagine.

Again, with all of us here, we offer hope in the face of hardship--on both sides--we offer a voice to the voiceless, and to bring good news to those in need.

Now, I have some remarks here, but I thought I would just tell you a couple stories. We lost Norman Mineta this year, as you know, and some of us were together at his service. Mr. Ambassador, Governor, former colleague Jim Blanchard, I call him Jamie because one of his friends was my friend and always referred to him as Jamie.

He spoke before I did, and he talked about how a number of Members come together on a regular basis and discuss this, that, and the other thing, and they have all this guidance that they want to give us. When I got up, I said, I am very familiar with that group--George Miller, Tom Downey, Marty Russo, you know, that whole crew--you know who I am talking about.

When they would call me with this guidance that they brought together, they would say: Madam Speaker, if you were smart, you would do thus and so. And I didn't take offense because I used to hear them say that to Tom Foley and others. Why they thought that was a good introduction to their remarks, I don't know. In any event, I think it was said in--I don't know why somebody would say that to you? If you were smart, you would do it this way. That is the wisdom of the former Members; but when they were Members, they said that, as well.

I thank you all for what you do to continue taking the experience of Congress into the community, the values of patriotism to our great country--what has unified us so much over time. Imagine the wisdom of our Founders to found a country based on something unknown, undone before.

Now, I see some Members here who are going to be part of this organization. All of a sudden, I am like, what? One of these days I will be joining you, too. I look forward to that, but in the meantime know that the foundation that each of you has put down when you were here is something that we continue to draw upon. It is very important to us--especially at a time when we worked in a much more bipartisan way, and that always has to be what we strive for--bipartisanship, accountability, and shedding light on what we do so that the people understand that their voices are heard.

I hope that you always take pride in your service in Congress no matter how raucous it may be here. We have seen some raucous times in our day going way back. Again, please understand the source of strength and inspiration that you all continue to be to us here, and the fact that you come together, whether it is on this day or technologically in other ways, and don't hesitate to call us, even if it is not the Speaker, but other Members to say: If you were smart, you would do thus and so.

So it is my pleasure--for the last time--to welcome you to this Chamber as Speaker of the House. Again, when I

see you again, I may be sitting on that side of this podium, so I look forward to that.

Thank you all for your patriotism, for your love of this great country, the greatest country that ever existed in the history of the world.

Let me tell you what is happening today. Today, the President will be signing the Respect for Marriage Act. That is a big deal for some of us. In my first speech on this floor, I talked about HIV and AIDS 35 years ago. One of the last bills I signed as Speaker for the first time was the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. One of the last bills I signed to send over to the President that he will sign today is the Respect for Marriage Act, in between the other things that relate to the hate crimes and all that.

The reason I mention it is because it was always an expansion of freedom in our country, and that is what we hope we always continue to do--ever increasing the freedom in our country.

At the end of the day, I will welcome 50 heads of state from Africa. The President is having an African summit now, and he will be welcoming 50 heads of state at the White House. Then, tonight, they will come here.

I am so proud that we can show them this temple of democracy, welcome them here, hear what they have to say, build a strong bond with them.

So many of you have been so much a part of everything that has happened here. I thank you for that, forever expanding freedom in our country. Thank you so much. Lovely to be with you.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy and great pride that I rise to celebrate two longtime members of our congressional community-- indeed our family--as they prepare for retirement: Ella Terry and Patricia Smith, better known as Miss Pat.

On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, it is my privilege to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation for their decades of service. With extraordinary devotion and a deep-seated love for this institution, each has served the Congress longer than most Members. That is reason to applaud.

Ahead of their well-earned retirements, let us wish them both well. It is sad to see them go, but we are grateful for their many, many years of service they have given us.

On our side of the aisle, we all know that Ella Terry has worked in the House Democratic cloakroom since the dawn of the millennium in January of 2000, after working for more than a decade in the Capitol Coffee Shop. She knows our preferences.

Altogether, she has dutifully served on Capitol Hill for 34 years. She has a warm, caring, steadfast presence, a sunny smile, no matter how arduous things may be going on the floor or the cloakroom.

With Ella, no one is a stranger, everyone is a friend. She is a bedrock member of our family here in the House.

When Congresswoman Gabby Giffords first returned to the floor after the heinous attack on her life, Ella embraced Gabby and told her through tears: I am so proud of you. Gabby was so proud of you, too.

The late Congressman Elijah Cummings once told his colleagues: Ms. Ella is my personal adviser. And since he was personal adviser to the rest of us, we are all in your debt for your advice to him.

Thank you to Ella's daughter, Tawanna, who is here, and granddaughter, Christina, thank you for being with us; and to your entire family for sharing her with us for so many years.

Across the aisle, Miss Pat has brought that same unwavering dedication to her service in the House Republican cloakroom.

For nearly five decades, Miss Pat has been a cherished colleague in the Capitol; first in the House dining room and in the Longworth House Office Building, and then for 36 years just off the floor of the House.

A remarkable friend to all those privileged enough to work alongside her, she has been a daily blessing to this Chamber.

The House is also grateful to Miss Pat's loving family, especially her two daughters, Nikoshia and Bianca, and her beloved granddaughter, Lauren.

The House of Representatives is a brighter, more joyful place in which we serve, thanks to Ella and Miss Pat. These patriots reflect the highest ideals of public service; a joyful commitment to others, a profound love for our country, and a lifelong reverence for the Congress.

Their service, their kindness, and their friendship will be long- remembered by the countless Members and staff they have served over the years.

Let us join in thanking Ella and thanking Miss Pat, and best wishes for new adventures that lie ahead for you. Congratulations.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. McCarthy), the Republican leader.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield back the balance of my time as we end our tribute to two great Americans, members of our families, Miss Pat and Ella Terry. Thank you all so much.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support for the Respect for Marriage Act, an historic step forward in Democrats' fight to defend the dignity and equality of every American.

Let us salute those who have legislated and advocated relentlessly to make this bill the law of the land. I thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler, Equality Caucus Chair David Cicilline, and all of the members of the Equality Caucus, and the grassroots activists out there, without whose mobilization so many pieces of legislation to expand freedom in our country would not be possible.

I say that because when I came to this floor 35 years ago, my first speech on the floor, after I was sworn in, was to talk about--say that I came here to fight HIV and AIDS. What I learned after that is we had to fight against discrimination against people with HIV and AIDS.

Two people who were so significant in that are Phyllis and Del, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, champions in our country. Well, I will talk about them in a moment.

First, I want to salute the Senate for its strong bipartisan legislation, the leadership of Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Tammy Baldwin, and the bipartisan, strong support that this House gave the legislation to send it over to the Senate.

Marriage equality has been law across our country since 2015 and, proudly, even longer in the State of California. Indeed, my thoughts today are with Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, two dear friends and iconic trailblazers. I have brought their picture to the floor time and time again to talk about freedom and dignity and respect so many times.

Nearly two decades ago, their enduring love made history as they joyfully, joyfully said their vows in San Francisco City Hall, the first. In the years since, the same euphoria has blessed couples and bonded families in every corner of America.

Yet, since the Supreme Court's monstrous decision overturning Roe v. Wade, rightwing forces have set their sights on this basic personal freedom.

In his concurrent opinion, Clarence Thomas explicitly called on the Court to reconsider its ruling in Obergefell. While his legal reasoning is twisted and unsound, we must take Justice Thomas at his word and the hateful movement behind him at their word.

We must act now, on a bipartisan, bicameral basis, to combat bigoted extremism and uphold the inviolability of same-sex and interracial marriages.

Once signed into law, the Respect for Marriage Act will help prevent rightwing extremists from: Upending the lives of loving couples, traumatizing kids across the country, and turning back the clock on hard-won progress.

This legislation takes several steps to uphold marriage equality under Federal law.

First, it tears the bigoted, unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act off the books for good. When that bill was passed, our colleagues understood that it was not constitutional. Why else would they have tried to strip the judicial review of the Defense of Marriage Act if they thought it could take the test of judicial review?

Today's vote will codify a legal reality already handed down by the Supreme Court and ensure DOMA can never again be used to justify hateful discrimination.

Second, the Respect for Marriage Act will enshrine married couples' right to equal protection under Federal law, from tax filings to Social Security, to bereavement and veterans' benefits.

Third, this legislation will require that every State recognize all valid out-of-state marriages, regardless of any heinous restrictions imposed by particular State law.

This legislation is the latest step in House Democrats' fight to win full equality for LGBTQ Americans and forge a more perfect union that our children and their children, all of our children deserve.

Fighting alongside tireless advocates, we transformed the fight against HIV/AIDS, here at home and around the world; and I thank President Bush for his leadership in that regard as well, all of our Presidents--well, up until a certain point.

We tossed Don't Ask, Don't Tell into the dustbin of history. We enacted fully inclusive Federal hate crimes legislation, protecting Americans from the scourge of bigoted violence, with the Matthew Shepard Act; our friend, Barney Frank, our former colleague, was so instrumental in passing that legislation.

Today, we will include marriage equality into Federal law now and for generations to come.

I am just going to speak personally for a moment because, as I mentioned earlier, my first words on the floor of this House were about fighting against HIV and AIDS and discrimination that goes with that.

My final bill as Speaker the first time, one of the final bills that I signed was the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Now, one of the final bills that I will sign in the enrollment will be this beautiful legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act that we are passing today.

Today, we stand up for the values the vast majority of Americans hold dear, a belief in the dignity, beauty, and divinity, divinity, spark of divinity in every person, an abiding respect for love so powerful that it binds two people together.

San Francisco's--when we talk about freedom, I think of Harvey Milk. He once told his supporters: ``I have tasted freedom. I will not give up that which I have tasted.''

Thus, today, this Chamber proudly stands with the forces of freedom, not going back, and justice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a resounding bipartisan ``aye'' vote in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act in loving memory of Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, my dear friends, and iconic pioneers, and I urge a strong bipartisan vote.

Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his tremendous leadership to protect and defend the American people and our Constitution. I thank the gentleman for his kind words about my colleague from San Francisco, Jackie Speier, for her leadership on behalf of the men and women in uniform.

Mr. Speaker, what an honor it is to speak on this important legislation with you in the chair, a champion for the security of the American people, whether on the Armed Services Committee, the Intelligence Committee, other initiatives, whether it is cybersecurity or the rest, you have been a leader. You have taught us a lot about your areas of expertise and more, and because of you, we were able, on one of the anniversaries of the ADA, to change the infrastructure of the House so that you could preside.

Mr. Speaker, you were the first to preside, and now as we come to the end of your service and your leadership in the Congress--not in the world--that you should be in the chair is an honor for all of us. You bring honor to this Congress, to that position, and I thank you for your service and your leadership, Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this year's strong bipartisan, bicameral National Defense Authorization Act, the foundation of America's national security priorities.

This legislation honors our fundamental charge under the United States Constitution to provide for the common defense. That is why Democrats have fought tirelessly to invest in our Nation's greatest sources of strength, from our heroic servicemen and -women and their families to promoting American leadership around the globe.

Thanks to the distinguished chair of the Armed Services Committee, Adam Smith, as well as the ranking member, Mike Rogers, and all the members of the committee and staff for your tireless work assembling this bipartisan, bicameral legislative package. That is what makes it stronger, its bipartisanship.

I would like to talk about some of the things that are in the legislation because as our country grows and our needs are greater, the cost goes up, as well. But how those resources are prioritized is very important to our colleagues who are making their vote known to the public to whom we are accountable to understand our definition of strength.

That starts with the deeply deserved 4.6 percent pay raise to help ease the sting of inflation for our men and women in uniform. We are also empowering the Pentagon to raise the basic housing allowance, bringing down food prices by directing more funding to commissaries, and expanding support for childcare services; meaning the personal needs of our personnel are so very important, and this legislation does just that.

Building on the sweeping progress in last year's NDAA to combat sexual assault in the military, this year we require independently trained investigators outside the immediate chain of command to investigate claims of sexual harassment, as well. Our colleague Jackie Speier was so important in all of that.

Importantly, we blocked an anti-choice demand to eliminate the right to travel to access legal abortion for servicemembers stationed in a State that criminalizes reproductive health. Because for Democrats, health freedom is a value for every woman everywhere.

Additionally, this legislation delivers a record amount of funding for research and development at America's HBCUs and steers additional funding to

other minority-serving institutions. This is so important because Democrats--and now Republicans--know that we must build a diverse, inclusive national security workforce, one reflective of our Nation.

By investing in these essential engines of opportunity, we expand the talent pipeline and make sure our Nation's brightest minds will help solve our toughest national security challenges with inclusiveness, with diversity, with our best.

At the same time, we are investing in America's global preeminence. It is a national security imperative to honor our troops with cutting- edge technologies, equipping them to tackle complex 21st century threats. You know this so well, Mr. Speaker, as does our chair and ranking member. We are harnessing the power of clean energy to ensure that our defense facilities and vehicle fleets are resilient to climate change.

Meanwhile, we are nurturing a growing semiconductor industry which we reinvigorated earlier this year with the CHIPS and Science Act.

Now, the NDAA will require government contracts to use chips that are made in America: creating good-paying jobs here at home, securing our supply chains, and bolstering our economic competitiveness.

This year's NDAA also makes robust progress to promote American leadership in the global arena. The safety of families here at home depends on international security and stability.

So with this legislation, we ensure that America and our allies maintain a military and qualitative edge in strategic regions across the world, investing more than $11 billion in the Pacific Deterrence Initiative; securing more than $6 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative; and further support for Ukraine's fight for freedom through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

Indeed, Democrats know that the security of our Nation is not only measured in our military might, but also in the health, strength, and our well-being, and the respect we have for our partners.

As I draw to a conclusion--I didn't say close--I just want to salute the people of Ukraine and President Zelenskyy for their courage. In fighting for their democracy, they are fighting for our democracy and the democracies of their neighbors in Europe, as well, and really throughout the world. So, we have a moral responsibility, as well as a practical one, to support our Ukraine initiatives.

Importantly, there are two additional provisions the Democrats fought to attach to this legislative package. The first is a version of the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, a long-sought Democratic priority to make it easier for Federally employed firefighters who contract certain diseases to qualify for Federal workers' compensation.

Our firefighters are our nobility. They risk their lives, putting their lives on the line to protect our families, our homes, our communities from devastation. With this provision, we take another step to deliver the benefits they are entitled to that they have earned.

The second initiative, and very consequential, is the oceans package. It is a very important and, I understand, bipartisan initiative closely negotiated with military leaders. This bipartisan legislation is a force for America's national security and economic competitiveness.

Mr. Speaker, 4 in 10 Americans live in coastal counties, and the well-being of every family depends on strong, secure water sources. By taking action to conserve our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes, we are protecting jobs and businesses, ensuring resilient access to clean water, and preserving invaluable aquatic life and their natural habitat.

Our military leaders repeatedly have told us that the climate crisis is a top threat facing our Nation. The climate crisis is a security issue. So we are also modernizing the NOAA Corps and securing more hurricane hunter aircrafts to help protect communities from extreme weather and climate disaster.

Mr. Speaker, today, we are confronting threats to democracy here and around the world. Again, I would, in closing, once again salute President Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine. Their fight for democracy is ours, as well. We have not only a moral but also a strategic responsibility to continue to support their fearless fight as we do in this legislation.

In order to uphold our sacred responsibility and ensure that Americans are safe and America is secure, I urge a strong bipartisan vote for the NDAA. Then, we will send it to the Senate and on to the President to become the law of the land. My understanding is that there is agreement between the House and the Senate in a bipartisan way as we send this on.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Rogers for his great leadership in all of this.

On a separate note, we are overjoyed that Brittney Griner is on her way home after the President's tireless and focused work to secure her release. Earlier today, we passed the Marriage Protection Act, and we are so happy that she will be joining her wife when she comes home.

Again, Congress remains firmly committed to supporting the administration as it continues to work to secure the release of Paul Whelan and all those who Putin has unjustly detained. I just saw on the news as I was coming over here that Paul Whelan said the President made the right decision to get Brittney, trade for that, and then keep the focus to get him free.

Again, I support Chair Smith and Ranking Member Rogers for their great leadership in accomplishing a bipartisan, strong bill that again keeps our country strong and measures our might in terms of our hardware, of course, but also, in terms of the people who keep us strong. We are deeply in their debt.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan vote.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and for her management of this very important legislation as a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

It is my honor to stand on this floor today in support of the Uyghur Policy Act and to join my colleague, Mr. Smith. For decades, Mr. Smith and I--as well as Frank Wolf and so many others--have been working together for human rights throughout the world. I thank him for his leadership and his remarks on this important legislation. Again, a strong step in our continued work to counter the genocide of the Uyghur people.

In Xinjiang and across China, millions of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are enduring outrageous and barbaric abuses, from mass surveillance and discriminatory policing to mass incarceration in forced labor camps to mass torture, including solitary confinement and sterilization.

In its latest Human Rights Report, our own State Department has unequivocally declared that the Chinese

Communist Party's persecution of the Uyghurs amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity.

It is often said that one of the most sinister and cruel forms of torture employed by authoritarian regimes is to tell the oppressed: ``Nobody even remembers you.'' They don't even know what the fuss is about.

This Congress remains bipartisan, bicameral, unbreakable in our commitment to shining a bright light on the persecution of the Uyghurs.

With this legislation, we send a powerful signal to the Uyghur people: America sees you; we stand with you; and we are fighting for you.

And we send a resounding message to Beijing: This genocide must end now.

My remarks go on to talk about the Uyghur Policy Act and what it does, in addition to what we passed in 2020, the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act; in 2021, the Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act. It includes the establishment of a Special Coordinator at State to spearhead the effort, which will ensure a laser focus on the brutal conditions facing the Uyghurs.

For decades, the Chinese Communist Party has waged a campaign of cruelty, terror, and repression, from cracking down on the culture, religion, and language of Tibet, intimidating the people of Taiwan, to restricting basic freedoms in Hong Kong, to jailing journalists and dissidents; and more.

We support and salute the courageous citizens across mainland China who are in the streets today speaking out for their freedom.

I join freedom-loving people around the world supporting the Chinese people for exercising this Fundamental right to make their voices heard.

Yet let us not forget how the government of China has often responded to these demonstrations with a heavy hand: whether in Tiananmen in 1989 or more recently against those marching for their rights in Hong Kong.

The past must not be precendent for Beijing's response to this wave of peaceful protests.

As I always say: if we do not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights anywhere.

This is America's moral imperative--and today, we take another step to honor this charge today with the legislation before us

I urge a strong, bipartisan yes vote on the Uyghur Policy Act.

Mr. Speaker, I also rise in support of legislation, H.R. 9308, honoring a legendary leader in Congress, Susan Davis, my dear colleague from San Diego.

Susan Davis began her career in public service in her beloved San Diego: First in social work, then on the historic school board, then the State Assembly; and now, the Armed Services Committee, Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan ``yes'' for this bill honoring Susan Davis, and also for the Uyghur Policy Act.

Mr. Speaker, I again thank our colleagues for bringing these pieces of legislation to the floor, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on both.