Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership as chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee. I am grateful for the bipartisan support that the bill is receiving here.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the landmark Honoring our PACT Act. As you know, PACT stands for Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, now named after Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson. I am going to talk about him in a moment.

This bipartisan legislation honors our duty to deliver healthcare that millions of veterans need and that they have certainly earned. This is the second time the House has voted on this important bill, and we are proud that after the Senate passes this version, we will finally send it to the President to be signed into law.

For their relentless leadership on this legislation, let me salute Chairman Mark Takano and his ranking member as well who made addressing toxic exposure a top priority in this Congress; Congressman Raul Ruiz, whose experience as a physician informed a key provision of this bill establishing presumption of exposure; and Congresswoman Elaine Luria, a Navy veteran who authored a provision expanding health benefits to veterans exposed to burn pits.

Also included in this legislation--and I am so pleased about it--is legislation by Congressman Matt Cartwright, author of the Camp Lejeune Justice Act, to allow veterans or their loved ones to seek damages related to injuries incurred while serving at Camp Lejeune.

We have had many people come from the area. The legislators from North Carolina, David Price and others, have been relentless in their pursuit of this legislation. Families would come here and tell their stories of their loved ones' service at Camp Lejeune where the water supply was causing serious health problems not only for the servicemember, which would be horrible enough, but for their family members as well. This is corrected in this legislation and is a very important improvement.

From the deserts of Iraq to the mountains of Afghanistan and on the bases and military theaters around the world, a generation of courageous Americans have donned the Stars and Stripes to protect our freedom. These heroes have put their lives on the line to fight the enemy. Yet, tragically, many of them have confronted another deadly threat: exposure to burn pits and toxins which have taken a severe toll on their health.

Make no mistake: burn pit exposures are pervasive. Eighty-six percent of the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans report having been exposed to these toxic fumes. I don't want to go into what is in these pits. It is so disgusting.

They are deadly. The VA has seen over a 60 percent increase in rates of cancers tied to toxic exposure in the last 20 years. But when these veterans come home, they are forced into a convoluted claims process which cruelly saddles them with the burden of proof, and nearly three- quarters of burn pit-related claims are denied. Think of the injustice of that.

Tragically, this problem is not new to our Nation. Many veterans of the Vietnam war were forced to wait four long decades before their exposure to Agent Orange was recognized and they could claim benefits. This was, of course, addressed with the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Act that was passed by the Congress in 2019. Some Agent Orange provisions have been in subsequent NDAA legislation.

I know this issue well. Before I was in Congress, I was participating in sit-ins with hunger strikes for Vietnam vets in the early eighties. More than one time we were joined by Dick Gregory who had experience in hunger strikes for civil rights reasons, and he was instructing the veterans on how to hydrate, et cetera, so that they could survive the hunger strikes hopefully in time to make a difference. But it took decades. We cannot and will not let that happen to another generation.

There are potentially up to 3.5 million veterans deployed after the attacks of September 11--3.5 million deployed since September 11--who may have been exposed to toxic fumes and substances, and we must act now to save lives.

The PACT Act is a comprehensive bill--others have discussed what it does--that meets the challenge of toxic exposures for veterans in three ways. First, it expands access to VA healthcare to post-9/11 combat veterans exposed to toxins. Second, it grants presumptions of exposure for veterans with rare cancers, COPD, and other debilitating diseases. Third, it creates a permanent, streamlined process to ensure that future Secretaries will review and approve new exposure swiftly.

Why do we have these burn pits?

We always keep saying here that on the battlefield we leave no soldier behind and when they come home, we leave no veteran behind. And yet, they come home with hidden injuries--whether they are psychological or exposures to a burn pit--the consequences of which do not show up for a while.

We have spent more than $6 trillion recruiting, training, and deploying our servicemembers overseas during the last 20 years. But let's be clear: This is only part of the price tag. When we send our troops into conflict, we have to understand that we are responsible for the consequences. Burn pit exposure is one of them. Toxic exposures are a cost of war, and we must treat it as such. This is not a question of dollars. It is a matter of values.

In all of the Congress' work for veterans, it is imperative that veterans' groups, our veterans, their families, and the veterans service organizations, the VSOs, are not only at the table, but they are also leading the way. Mr. Takano has been a leader at that table for years.

The overwhelming support of VSOs, especially a group now called Burn Pits 360, was absolutely crucial to crafting this bill, steering it through the legislative process, and securing its passage in the House today.

I have quoted Lincoln over and over again. Lincoln said: ``Public sentiment is everything. With it, nothing can fail; against it, nothing can succeed.''

Well, our veterans caused public sentiment to be aroused to such a point that here we are getting this done. They enlisted Jon Stewart and John Feal, two people who had been there with us on the 9/11 health benefits for people exposed at the time of 9/11. And they had been real champions in the public visibility of this issue; not only to help mobilize support for us to pass it, but to give hope to people who have been affected to know that there is a chance that this can be accomplished.

So I thank Jon Stewart, and I thank John Feal.

At the same time, it is with great pride and patriotism that the PACT Act has strong bipartisan and bicameral support worthy of our heroic veterans. This Congress is also grateful to Secretary McDonough, the VA, and the entire administration for their support.

Mr. Speaker, I thank President Biden for making this a priority in his State of the Union Address, especially when he talked about his beloved son, Beau.

Madam Speaker, since we passed the PACT Act, it has been renamed. It has a new name of a veteran we lost from toxic exposure.

Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson was exposed to burn pits while deployed to Kosovo and Iraq, and afterward he battled a rare, deadly lung cancer. Sadly, he died in 2020 at just age 39, leaving behind his wife and daughter. Today, in his memory, we redouble our efforts to ensure tragic stories like his can never happen again. He is representative of so many other stories and the toll that this has taken.

Again, we say that when our troops go to war on the battlefield, we leave no soldier behind. When they come home, we leave no veteran behind. Our PACT Act is an historic victory for our veterans and for their advocacy that honors that pledge now and for the future.

Madam Speaker, I urge a bipartisan vote on the Honoring our PACT Act. I hope it will be almost unanimous. I look forward to seeing it swiftly passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President.

Madam Speaker, again, I am grateful for the leadership of Mr. Takano.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his extraordinary leadership in bringing this very important legislation to the floor. I commend the chairman, as well as Mr. Mike Thompson, the chair of our Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and so many others who have participated in so many elements of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a strong step forward to combat America's epidemic of gun violence and to protect our precious children.

As lawmakers, we share a sacred responsibility to keep our kids safe from harm. But according to new data from the CDC, guns are the number one killer of children in America; more than car accidents or cancer. Our hearts remain shattered by the rampage at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, as they do from the massacre at Sandy Hook, and countless other communities across the Nation.

Indeed, we know these schools could have been in any one of our districts--and have been in some, those families could have been any one of our neighbors--and have been, and those children could have been our own.

All of us who have met with survivors in the wake of the tragedies have heard their message loud and clear. We must do something.

Today, in their honor, we heed their powerful cry, sending a major gun violence prevention legislation to President Biden's desk for signature. We send it to the President for his signature, with gratitude for his leadership on this important issue. He was the author of the Brady Law in 1994 and has been a champion ever since.

This legislation, the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, includes several strong steps to save lives not only from horrific mass shootings, but also from the daily massacre of gun crime, suicide, and tragic accidents.

Included in this package are two major provisions which we have championed here in the House:

First, this bill includes significant investments to help States establish Extreme Risk Protection Order Laws, otherwise known as red flag laws.

Thanks to the leadership of Representative Lucy McBath, who has been our inspirational leader on this subject in our caucus and this Congress, and Salud Carbajal, these provisions will keep deadly weapons away from those who pose a threat to themselves and to others.

Secondly, this bill takes strong action to combat straw purchases, a cause Congresswoman Robin Kelly spearheaded in our Chamber. Although we hear about the notorious mass murders every day on our streets and in our country, murders take place. Doing so will make it illegal to buy guns on behalf of those who cannot legally purchase.

If I can pass the test, I buy the gun. And then I sell it to you because you can't pass the test.

Straw purchase. Very dangerous. This bill addresses that. That is a giant step.

This package also includes additional initiatives that will help reduce the danger of gun violence across our country. We are moving toward closing the boyfriend loophole: a victory to help protect survivors of domestic violence and to stop known abusers from acquiring a gun. This has long been a priority.

We are strengthening background checks for potential buyers under 21, which would have applied to the 18-year-old gunman at Uvalde. And we are making enormous investments in mental health programs, school safety programs, and community-based violence prevention initiatives.

I mention all these, Mr. Speaker, because, of course, I have to say that this

bill doesn't do everything we would like to do. We need to do more on background checks. There is some other language that we would like to do in terms of background checks not only on guns, but perhaps on high- capacity armament.

I say to my colleagues, as I frequently do--but it applies here now more than ever: Let us not judge this legislation for what is not in it but respect it for what it does. And what it does is save lives. And we are very, very proud of that.

Again, I thank Chairman Nadler and Gun Violence Protection Task Force chairman, Mike Thompson, for their determined leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. This package represents the most significant action to prevent gun violence in nearly three decades and is a necessary step to honor our solemn duty as lawmakers to protect and defend the American people.

Importantly, the bipartisan Safer Communities Act has earned strong support from gun owners, gun survivors, and law enforcement alike.

Gun Owners for Responsible Ownership endorse our bill saying: ``We write today as responsible gun owners; but above all else, we are proud parents and grandparents of toddlers, students, and young teachers. We want them to be safe.''

Everytown for Gun Safety wrote that this ``commonsense legislation addresses every form of gun violence.''

And the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police applauded our bipartisan agreement, calling it a giant step forward and one that will save lives. I repeat: A giant step forward and one that will save lives. The statements are from the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Indeed, keeping our children safe is a unifying issue for our country, and it must be a unifying issue in this Congress.

Yesterday, our Nation watched in horror as a radical partisan supermajority of the Supreme Court ruled to flood America's streets with even more deadly weapons.

It is unconscionable that as America reaches a fever pitch of gun violence, the Court has chosen to create a new right to bring guns into public spaces, while hindering the ability of States to stop the bloodshed. In doing so, the GOP supermajority, Trump-McConnell Court, is implicitly endorsing the tragedy of mass shootings and daily gun deaths plaguing our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, with this bipartisan package, we take the first steps to fight back on behalf of the American people who desperately want new measures to keep communities safe in the high numbers in the polling.

Our Democratic House majority has again and again passed landmark legislation that would combat the scourge of gun violence, and we will never give up in our fight to save lives

Mr. Speaker, our fight to prevent gun violence is of, by, and for the children.

Of the children, because they are suffering. It is heartbreaking that in America more children die from guns than any other cause.

By the children, because they are leading. We see the children marching in the streets, testifying before Congress, demanding action.

And always for the children, building a future where every child can reach his or her fulfillment, free from the fear of gun violence.

To the Members who lack the courage to join in this work--to those who lack the courage to join in this work--I say your political survival is insignificant compared to the survival of our children. Today, we will prevail for the children.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong bipartisan ``aye'' vote for this lifesaving legislation.

Madam Speaker, in his State of the Union Address this year, President Biden laid out his powerful ``Unity Agenda.''

This inspiring vision encompassed areas of broad bipartisan agreement on four of the biggest challenges we face.

And today, I proudly rise in support of legislation that forges important progress on three of the President's ambitious and unifying goals:

improving mental health and addressing the opioid epidemic, with the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act;

and intensifying the fight against cancer, with the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Health Act.

Today, the House will pass a package of critical resources to address our Nation's twin crises of mental health and the substance use disorders.

The CDC estimates that more than half of American adults will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.

At the same time, more than two million Americans suffer from an opioid use disorder--and our Nation has seen a 30 percent spike in overdose deaths from 2019 to 2020.

Families and communities are being torn apart--and we must act now.

Our Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act strengthens and expands more than 30 essential, life-saving initiatives: from crisis response, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline; to treatments helping combat the opioid epidemic; and to behavioral health services for our children, to name just a few.

Let us salute the unyielding leaders of the Bipartisan Addiction and Mental Health Task Force: who have moved us all with their powerful personal stories of these issues have touched their lives.

And thank you to Energy & Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone for helping steer this crucial package to the Floor.

At the same time, the House will today pass legislation to supercharge our Nation's Cancer Moonshot.

Our hearts break for the hundreds of thousands of American families each year who lose a loved one to the scourge of cancer.

Six years ago, then-Vice President Biden inspired our Nation with his bold and personal leadership in the fight to defeat cancer.

And this year, as President, he has proudly reignited this ambitious initiative: redoubling our Nation's efforts to slash the cancer death rate in half over the next 25 years.

Thanks to the determined leadership of Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, the ARPA-H Act will accelerate innovation in medicine and technology: harnessing the power of American ingenuity; and fueling new breakthroughs in the search for a cure.

In doing so, we will take an important step to save lives--not only from cancer, but from additional devastating diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer's and diabetes.

In his inspiring State of the Union Address last March, President Biden called on the Congress to ``show the Nation that we can come together and do big things.''

And today, the House proudly answers that call--with strong, popular legislation that the American people want and deserve.

So I urge all Members to join together in a strong ``aye'' vote for these bipartisan bills, so we can prove that Congress still works For The People.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Active Shooter Alert Act, another strong step to help save lives from the scourge of gun violence.

On average, more than 300 Americans are shot every day across the country--including more than 20 precious children.

Many are horrifically murdered in mass shootings, as we have sadly witnessed in Uvalde, Buffalo and many more communities.

And tragically, hundreds more fall victim to the daily massacre of gun crime, which rarely makes the evening news.

These shootings often unfold in the heart of our communities:

in homes and in our neighborhoods;

in our schools and on our streets;

at our malls and in our movie theaters.

But right now, there's no efficient and effective way for law enforcement to warn nearby families to avoid the site of a shooting-- which is putting more innocent lives at risk.

That is why, today, the House will pass strong, bipartisan legislation to quickly warn communities when a gunman opens fire.

Our Active Shooter Alert Act will help set up a system similar to AMBER Alerts--helping state and local law enforcement agencies to notify those in the area of an active shooter threat.

With a more unified, streamlined and standardized system, we can keep communities better informed and prevent more innocent families from unknowingly walking into danger.

Let us salute an unyielding champion in the fight against gun violence, Congressman David Cicilline, for crafting this commonsense and life-saving measure.

And importantly, this vital legislation has the support of many major law enforcement organizations, who have called for its passage, including:

the National Sherriffs' Association;

the Major Cities Chiefs Associations;

the National Association of Police Organizations;

the Fraternal Order of Police;

the National Police Foundation;

and the National District Attorneys Association.

As we pass this bill today, we remain prayerful that the Senate will pass bipartisan legislation to prevent gun violence.

While more is needed, this bill will take steps to save lives.

These measures would represent the most significant gun violence prevention legislation in three decades--breaking through the gridlock that has long blocked House-passed bills from becoming law.

At the same time, our Democratic House Majority will never stop fighting for more life-saving measures.

House Democrats have twice passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act, to secure universal background checks on all gun purchases.

Earlier this month, we passed our Protecting Our Kids Act to:

raise the age to 21 years old to buy weapons of war;

ban high-capacity magazines designed for mass murder;

ensure safe storage to protect our children from tragic accidents;

and take additional steps to save lives.

Mr. Speaker, our fight to prevent gun violence is of, by and for the children.

Of the children, because they are suffering. It is heartbreaking that, in America, more children die from guns than any other cause.

By the children, because they are leading. We see them marching in the streets, testifying before the Congress, demanding action.

And always For The Children: building a future where every child can reach his or her fulfillment, free from the fear of gun violence.

Protecting our children must be a unifying mission in the Congress-- as it is a unifying issue for the American people.

And nowhere will we find more agreement than this commonsense measure to help keep innocent families out of the line of fire.

I urge a strong, bipartisan ``aye'' vote for this life-saving legislation.

Madam Speaker, I rise, alongside Congresswoman Jackie Speier, to recognize the outstanding service and trailblazing career of Dr. Nancy Milliken in celebration of her well-earned retirement. As the Founding Director of the National Center of Excellence in Women's Health at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Milliken has touched the lives of women in San Francisco and across the nation. Her long and storied career has been defined by selfless service and unwavering devotion to the dignity of every patient.

Educated at Harvard University and Duke University Medical School, Dr. Milliken began her career facing indifference toward and underinvestment in women's health--among those in the medical field and in society at large. Equipped with a sharp intellect and a lifelong talent for speaking truth to power, she made it her mission to build a fairer, healthier future for women and girls.

In 1996, she helped UCSF establish one of the nation's first centers of excellence in women's health, spearheading efforts to strengthen medical training through clinical care, education, research, community engagement and leadership. These efforts continue to have a daily impact on the health of local women, including through the coordinated care provided at two clinics in San Francisco.

Under Dr. Milliken's leadership, the Center has also worked with community organizations across the country to open doors to quality, affordable health care. Partnering with a school district in Jackson, Mississippi, the Center helped provide education and physical activity programs to local students and residents. And in Grand Forks, North Dakota, it worked with a local clinic to provide critical resources for survivors of intimate partner violence.

Among her peers, Dr. Milliken is renowned for her courage and resilience. While organizing a conference with other centers of excellence, she led the charge to host practitioner workshops covering topics viewed by some as taboo, including abortion and lesbian health. In the face of much resistance, she successfully fought to ensure that attendees could access comprehensive educational sessions on these important subjects.

Always looking to the future, she has also worked to prepare the next generation of women's health practitioners. In partnership with Congresswoman Speier, Dr. Milliken has helped educate more than 10,000 high school students through the Young Women's Health and Leadership Summit--an annual event organized by and for the young women of San Francisco.

Rarely seeking the spotlight, Dr. Milliken is more interested in her long-term impact than accolades or titles. She readily shares credit and eagerly mentors those seeking to follow in her footsteps. Yet her remarkable achievements have been recognized by an array of professional and community organizations, including the Academy of Women's Health, the Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women and the Hunters Point Family.

Right now, women across our country are bracing for a Supreme Court decision that will dramatically restrict our Constitutional rights and health freedoms. As we confront this challenge, our nation is blessed by the warriors trained by Dr. Milliken, who are prepared to defend the health and welfare of American women.

Congress and the Country salute the committed service of this brilliant researcher, doctor, leader and friend, and we wish her all the best as she prepares for a deeply deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor. I commend him and the members of the committee, as we just heard from Congresswoman Spanberger, for their very important work recognizing the needs of America's working families with their kitchen table issues, recognizing the needs in rural America for us to have legislation that strengthens rural America's hand in the decisions that we make as we go forward.

Mr. Speaker, as we gather here, the war continues in Ukraine. It is an unprovoked, outrageous act of aggression on the part of Putin and Russia invading the territorial borders of Ukraine.

At the same time, doing that has driven up prices here at home, driven up prices at the pump; it is a Putin price at the pump. That is the main reason, in the short period of time following the invasion of Ukraine, the price at the pump went up its highest amount in a very long time.

Russia is also a source of fertilizer, a big source of fertilizer to our country, and of course, diminishing the supply coming in raises the cost of fertilizer and contributes to the cost for our farmers, and of course, then contributes to the price of food at the grocery store. It is an important kitchen table issue.

Putin's price at the pump is exacerbating the skyrocketing costs weighing heavily on our families. Again, since Russia began its saber- rattling against Ukraine, gas prices in many places went up $2 per gallon.

Meanwhile, the World Bank reports that global food prices in March and April spiked 16 percent over the 2 months prior, and while Putin works to fuel inflation today, the Democratic House--hopefully, in a bipartisan way--takes a strong step to bring down crucial kitchen table costs at the pump and grocery store and across the board.

Our Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act does precisely what the name suggests in three major areas.

First, the bill brings down the costs for farmers in the field. As we know, oil, gasoline is an important factor of production for farmers in order for them to produce. The war in Ukraine has restricted the supply of fertilizer, as I mentioned, and sent the costs through the roof. By taking action to lower the costs on the farm, we lower the costs on the shelf in the grocery store and on the kitchen table.

Second, this bill bolsters competition in the meatpacking industry, and I thank Mr. Scott for his leadership. Cracking down on the market power of big conglomerates and increasing competition will ensure ranchers get a fair deal for their livestock while families get a good price for meat and poultry.

Third, this bill will help make cheaper, cleaner homegrown biofuels more widely available. This summer drivers who choose to fill up with Unleaded 88 could save an average of 40 cents a gallon, and by making this fuel more widely available it will unleash the power of America's farmers to help break the grip of foreign autocrats on energy markets; lower gas prices, while keeping our dollars here at home; and reduce pollution because biofuels are cleaner than petroleum.

Today's action to lower food and fuel costs is the latest manifestation of House Democrats' unyielding commitment to fight inflation.

Last month, our majority voted to hold Big Oil accountable for price gouging and war profiteering, which has kept energy prices excessively high.

This week, we passed legislation to crack down on exorbitant ocean shipping fees, leveling the playing field for American businesses and lowering costs for American consumers. Proudly today, President Biden will sign this legislation into law. It is called the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022.

As we speak, the Congress is hard at work on a bold, bipartisan, bicameral competitiveness package to make more goods in America; strengthen our supply chains; diversify our STEM workforce; and reinvigorate research and development. We look forward to sending this strong cost-cutting legislation to the President's desk.

Here is the thing: Inflation springs from higher costs. Higher costs spring from shorter supply. Shorter supply is there because of COVID preventing certain products from coming into our country, so short supply. Short supply of factors of production coming into our country.

That is why the COMPETES Act is so important because it will make us more independent, more self-sufficient on the products we need; for example, chips. Chips are a very important part of that bill. To make a car it takes 1,000 chips; an electric car, 2,000 chips. But we can't do that manufacturing unless we have chips, and if other countries are saving chips for themselves at home or the high fees of transporting them make it just unaffordable to people, we need to make these chips at home, and that is what the COMPETES Act enables us to do.

So lowering costs for our families; when we ran in 2018--just to bring back promises made--we said we were going to lower costs by lowering the costs of prescription drugs, and that is what we are in the midst of doing now. We are going to lower costs in every way for America's working families. That is what this legislation does here.

We are going to have bigger paychecks. And we have had, since President Biden took office, working with the private sector and the nonprofit sector and the public sector, 8 million jobs have been created. Unemployment has been cut in half. Wages have gone up. That also contributes to inflation, which must be addressed, and this legislation is part of doing that.

So this legislation is a strong step in that direction, and I salute the relentless leadership of the Agriculture chair, David Scott, and the Energy and Commerce chair, Frank Pallone, who is an important part of this, as well as Representatives Spanberger, Craig, Axne, and Harder and the dedicated staff of both committees.

Together, they have assembled a package of popular bipartisan legislation with a laser focus on fighting inflation.

Make no mistake, a vote against this bill is a vote to keep the cost of gas and groceries high, when we can do just the opposite by voting for it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a strong ``yes'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for bringing his superior knowledge of our Constitution and the law of the land to bear in this important debate for the children.

Yesterday, as we had the debate on so many other pieces of legislation which passed with bipartisan support, we said it was of the children, by the children, and for the children. ``Of them'' because they are suffering. ``By them'' because they are testifying in the Congress of the United States, apparently to no avail to some in the Congress, but making an emotional appeal of the facts of their case to the American people, and again, all of it for the children.

The Protecting Our Kids Act, I thank the chairman for bringing that to the floor. The legislation passed yesterday. It has strong steps to save lives, whether it is raising the age to purchase weapons of war, outlawing bump stocks and high-capacity magazines designed for mass murder, cracking down on gun trafficking and ghost guns, and strengthening safe storage requirements, to name just a few.

Today, the House builds on this progress by passing our Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, another lifesaving measure aimed at preventing the next tragic shooting before it is too late.

Too often, what we know is that those who pose a risk of gun violence show early warning signs: a menacing message online, a troubled message to a loved one. Yet, in too many communities across the country, concerned family members, friends, and law enforcement have no legal pathway to get deadly weapons out of the hands of these troubled individuals.

Under the leadership of Congresswoman Lucy McBath, the House will pass a bill empowering family members and law enforcement to seek a Federal court order to temporarily remove access to a gun from individuals who pose a threat to themselves and to others.

Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Salud Carbajal, this legislation will include incentives to encourage more States to adopt extreme risk protection order laws of their own. The incentives exist in many States, but not all.

Doing so will not only protect from mass shootings but also from the quiet daily massacre by suicide and gun crimes. These so-called red flag laws by some are saving lives in the 19 States and, as was mentioned, the District of Columbia, where they have been enacted. The statistics show that.

The American people are overwhelmingly for this lifesaving measure. Recent polling shows 8 in 10 Americans support it.

Madam Speaker, as you know, and you have experienced it in your State, gun violence in our Nation has reached a fever pitch in recent weeks. People keep saying again and again and again that we have gun violence. I would say it is not again and again and again; it is always. It is not one after another; it is ongoing, whether it is mass murders that are high profile or every night in cities and places across our country.

Sadly, too many Members think, in the wake of gun violence, a moment of silence is sufficient--a moment of silence. As Mr. Higgins said following the Buffalo massacre, we have a moment of silence, and then we must have action--and then we must have action.

Today, all Members have a chance to take action, to vote for another strong step, giving our communities a chance to prevent the next massacre. The next massacre could be a family tragedy, so it is personal as well as community protection.

Indeed, if you knew where and when the next gun incident would be, how could you oppose having the tools to possibly stop it? If you knew that children could possibly be exposed because of the action of someone practically a child themselves, still a teenager, having access to a weapon of war, why wouldn't you want to take action to stop it?

I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in a strong bipartisan ``aye'' vote for this legislation. In States across the country, this is not partisan at all. Let's hope that it will not be in the House of Representatives.

At the same time, we remain very prayerful and hopeful that the Senate will soon reach bipartisan agreement so that we will move a step closer to freeing our children from the horrors of gun violence, once and for all--our children, whether it is violence to them or violence to their parents and family members.

For the children, of the children, by the children, that is our mission. I urge an ``aye'' vote.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I commend him for his leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor. Protecting our kids; what could be more important than that? I thank the gentleman for channeling the ideas and enthusiasms of so many Members on both sides of the aisle as he brings this bipartisan legislation to the floor.

I thank Mr. Nadler for his leadership, and I thank the task force led by Mr. Mike Thompson of California for

his important work advancing the background check partisan legislation, as well as Mr. Clyburn for his legislation that is already over on the Senate side.

Madam Speaker, but today, we are doing more. Today, we were called to action by our colleague, Lucy McBath, who told us that today we must make history to protect the children, and we are going to make history by making progress.

So I thank all of our Members, so many Members who have been so important to this legislation. I thank them on behalf of the courageous survivors of gun violence who have spoken out, out of respect for those who lost their lives and with appreciation for the gravity of this issue that we come to be on this floor.

Madam Speaker, as the families from Buffalo to Uvalde bury their loved ones, even more communities have been hit by gun violence. Just last weekend, Americans watched in horror as at least 13 mass shootings unfolded across the country: from Philadelphia to Chattanooga to Phoenix to Grand Rapids.

As the data shows, the challenge of gun violence goes much further than these mass killings. Every night on our streets, Americans are being killed in gun crimes. And every day, our Nation loses Americans to suicides and accidents. This is a tragic daily massacre, which rarely makes the headlines or the evening news, but it is there.

So here we are, for the children. When those who were advocating gun violence or perpetrating it went into the classrooms, they crossed a line. It is terrible the gun violence that we have had in our country. But that they would go into Newtown and shoot little children who are barely out of diapers; and again now in Texas, these beautiful children in elementary school, and everything that happened in between, it was an assault on the culture of our country that our children would not be able to go to school without fear or concern about their safety.

Our children are, as President Kennedy said, our greatest resource and our best hope for the future. They are our precious treasure. Everything we do is for the children. And for the children, we must stop this gun violence in our country and restore their confidence in their safety, wherever they may be. So we are on a crusade for the children, and sadly now, by the children.

Children testifying in committee. Children coming to events. Last week, I had a 5th grader come to a Wear Orange rally that we had in California, where she said she lost both her mother and her father in separate gun violence incidents. In 5th grade, speaking at the podium so courageously. Children turning their grief, their experience now, not just--it would be enough to end the violence of losing a loved one, but to witness it and be a victim of it in the classroom. A crusade for the children by the children and of the children in terms of our motivation to stop this for our precious children.

Indeed, America had lost more children from gun violence than any other cause.

Does that embarrass you to think that in our country more children have died from gun violence than any other cause?

These stories are tragically all too common in America today. Countless more than those who died are forever changed by the horrors of gun violence that they saw firsthand or that they experienced in their families.

It is sickening that our children are forced to live in this constant fear. And make no mistake, these gunmen who choose to shoot at innocent children are desecrating, again, our culture--a culture where all of us, all of our kids must and should feel safe, whether it is in school, in church, the movies, or any other place.

Madam Speaker, protecting our children can and must be a unifying mission for our Nation because they are our, as I said, our national treasure. That is why, under the unyielding leadership of our chairman, Mr. Nadler, the House will pass the Protecting Our Kids Act today. This bold package includes commonsense measures that will make an enormous difference to save lives.

Who wouldn't vote to raise the age from 18 to 21 for a person to have a weapon of war?

Who wouldn't vote to raise the age to take weapons of war out of the hands of teenagers?

Who wouldn't vote to get illegal guns off of our streets by cracking down on gun trafficking which is a danger to people but also to law enforcement?

Who wouldn't vote for background checks on ghost gun purchases which our law enforcement tells us is a major concern out there?

Who wouldn't vote to protect children from stolen weapons or accidental shootings with safe storage requirements?

Who wouldn't vote to ban bump stocks--that was President Trump's executive order--bump stocks from civilian use or outlawing high- capacity magazines designed for massacres not for killing varmints.

These measures will not only help stem the tide of mass murder but address the equally urgent and wide range of daily gun deaths. Let us salute the many Members who have worked persistently to craft this strong legislation, written to earn bipartisan support that the American people expect and deserve.

Today's package is just one step in the House's relentless fight to stop the bloodshed. Our Democratic majority, as I mentioned earlier, has twice passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act, which together would put our Nation on a path toward universal background checks.

Tomorrow, thanks again to Congresswoman McBath and Congressman Carbajal, we will pass the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Act, otherwise known as the Red Flag Act. This will help keep guns out of the hands of those who pose a threat to themselves or others.

Soon, we will vote for Mr. Cicilline's Active Shooter Alert Act to create an AMBER alert-style notification during a mass shooting, a measure widely supported by law enforcement.

And the House will continue to consider additional actions we can take that have a proven record of saving lives. When I talk about these different things, people say, well, what difference is that going to make?

Well, the cumulative effect is a big one. We know there are negotiations going on in the Senate and we are prayerful, we are prayerful about those. Hopefully, we can make some advancement.

Because for all of us who have met again and again and again with the survivors of gun violence, some coming time and again to check up on what is happening, others new to that horrible club that none of us wants to be a member of, they just want something to happen.

Years ago, when I met with the survivors of Pulse, I said: What can we do to be of comfort to you? They said: Just make sure it doesn't happen to someone else.

That is what they said. They didn't say: I need this; I need that. They said: Just make sure it doesn't happen to someone else.

Right now, in the eyes of survivors and indeed all Americans, their eyes are on us in the Congress to see whether we have the courage, the commitment, and the conviction to protect the children.

For some in Congress, a moment of silence is good enough for them, a moment of silence. As Mr. Higgins said when he talked about Buffalo, a moment of silence now, but action after. Now, we are taking that action.

So many of our colleagues have talked about incidents in their district, personal experiences shared by people who have been victims of gun violence. Mr. Espaillat talked about what happened in his district.

Again, so many of you have come speaking of the horror of it all, and every time it happens, it is as if it has happened for the first time because the horror is so fresh. But it is not the first time for the victims who have to relive so much of the experience.

To those who a moment of silence is good enough because you don't have the courage to take a vote to protect the children, I would say your political survival is totally insignificant compared to the survival of our children.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to come together with a strong ``aye'' vote on all the provisions

in the bill for the final package and to do so as part of a crusade of, by, and for the children. I urge an ``aye'' vote on the Protecting Our Kids legislation.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his great leadership in bringing this important legislation to the floor, which is part of his leadership for the children, America's working families, and our country.

I also commend Congresswoman Jahana Hayes for her exceptional leadership in this regard, for talking about this issue, for giving people hope that there is a solution not only to correct the situation for now but to make sure it doesn't happen again.

I thank Mr. Scott for his leadership in so many ways.

Madam Speaker, today, the House is taking strong action to improve access to infant formula through the Women, Infants, and Children's program, also known as WIC. This shortage has taken an especially dangerous toll on women and children from underserved communities as about half of all infant formula sold nationwide is purchased as WIC benefits.

Thanks to the tireless leadership of Congresswoman Jahana Hayes and Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott, we will pass legislation today to secure important flexibility for the WIC program to help vulnerable families buy infant formula in times of emergency.

This action ensures WIC can respond quickly to supply chain disruptions and recalls by relaxing certain non-safety-related regulations. In doing so, we make sure that America's babies get the nutrition they need right now and for the future.

At the same time, under the relentless leadership of Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro, the House will soon pass an emergency supplemental appropriation to address the shortage.

The supplemental delivers urgently needed resources to the FDA to take steps to restore formula supply, increase FDA's inspection staff, keep fraudulent products off the grocery shelves, and better collect data on shortages in communities across the Nation.

It is essential that we ensure the Federal Government has the resources it needs to get baby formula back on the shelves. As the President said, we want to do it quickly, but we must do it safely, and we must do it with caution, not so fast as not to be safe.

These two bills are strong steps, and Democrats will not relent in shining a bright light on this emergency.

I am hopeful that Congressman Scott's and Congresswoman Hayes' legislation will be strongly bipartisan. That is my understanding, and that would be a great thing, coming together for the children.

Additionally, Chairwoman DeLauro is having hearings tomorrow in the Appropriations Committee on this subject. Chairman Frank Pallone of the Energy and Commerce Committee will be holding hearings next week to learn more. Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney of the Committee on Oversight and Reform has launched an investigation into the shortage, requesting that the four major formula manufacturers detail the steps they are taking to address this emergency. I thank her for her leadership.

When people ask me what the three most important issues facing the Congress are, I always say the same thing: our children, our children, our children--their health; their education; the economic security of their families; a clean, safe, gun violence-free environment in which they can thrive; and a world at peace in which they can reach their fulfillment.

That is why ensuring our beautiful babies have the nutrition they need to grow up healthy and strong is of urgent moral imperative.

As a mother of five and grandmother of nine, I know firsthand that when a baby is crying because a baby is hungry, we want to give that baby what is best for the baby in terms of not only satisfying the hunger but helping with the development, and that is why this has to be safe. Together, these two bills are the latest manifestation of our For the Children agenda, protecting their health and well-being.

Today, the President invoked the Defense Production Act to address nationwide shortages of baby formula, and that is a good thing. He will also make available some military aircraft to bring formula that is safe from other places to our country to get that formula on the shelves, in the homes, for the babies as soon as possible.

I say this is as personal as it gets for a family. Again, we all want it to be safe, and that is what I know that this legislation is about. That is why a vote ``no'' on this will deprive hungry babies of nutrition they need and jeopardize their future. That is why I am so glad it will be strongly bipartisan.

I urge an ``aye'' on both bills for the babies, for the children, and I congratulate both sides of the aisle for their work on this legislation.

Madam Speaker, California, the Congress and the Country are mourning the loss of a pioneering leader, a legendary statesman and a patriotic American: Secretary Norm Mineta.

Thank you to Congresswoman Judy Chu and the leadership of CAPAC, for hosting this Special Order. It is fitting that we pay tribute to their Co-Founder here on the House Floor, where he served for two decades.

Over the course of his long, distinguished and barrier-breaking career, Norm Mineta was a man of many titles:

An intelligence officer in the United States Army;

Mayor of San Jose--the first Asian American mayor of a major city;

Mr. Chairman here in the House--not only of the powerful Committee on Public Works & Transportation, but also a strong voice in the creation of CAPAC;

and Mr. Secretary: the first Asian American to hold a Cabinet post-- and he did so in not one, but two Administrations.

But as Norm told us himself, there was one title he always held dearest. He said, quote: ``I cherish the word citizen because my own government . . . wasn't willing to use that word to describe us.''

Indeed, all Americans are in awe of how--after enduring the cruelty of internment at just ten years old--Norm still chose to devote his life to serving the Nation that had turned its back on him.

Norm's lifelong public service will forever be remembered as a profound act of extraordinary courage, grace & patriotism: fighting to correct injustice and ensure America's founding promise for all.

Those of us who served with Norm in the House had the privilege of seeing this firsthand in his relentless mission for justice with the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.

He was the driving force behind this long-overdue law, in which the United States finally apologized for incarcerating Japanese American families like his own; and took a step to make amends for this stain on our Nation's history.

Who could forget Secretary Mineta' s visionary, tireless and patriotic leadership in the wake of the September Attacks--helping strengthen our Nation with the establishment of the TSA.

Personally, I will miss my dear friend, Norm, who treated all fortunate enough to know him with sincere kindness, humanity and respect.

And I join my fellow Californians in taking great pride in the fact that the San Jose International Airport continues to bear his name.

May it be a comfort to his loving wife, Deni, his sons David and Stuart, stepsons Robert and Mark, and his many grandchildren that a grateful Nation prays for them and mourns with them during this sad time.

God blessed our Nation with the life and leadership of Norm Mineta. May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I thank her and the ranking member for their leadership in bringing this legislation to the floor. It is legislation that makes an immediate and substantial difference to what is happening in Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, 10 days ago, it was my solemn and extraordinary privilege to lead a congressional delegation to Kyiv, where we met with President Zelenskyy. In the heart of his war-torn nation, our delegation expressed our deep admiration for the courage of the Ukrainian people as they fought for their democracy against autocracy and our endless respect for his great, heroic leadership.

In return, really just from the start, President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the American people, which I conveyed to this Congress and, therefore, to the American people for the extraordinary support that we have so far supplied--and now, tonight, more to come.

He praised our President for being such a source of hope as well as support to the people of Ukraine--not only for our support but for the unifying force he has been in this fight.

Mr. Speaker, as Putin desperately accelerates his campaign of horror and brutality in Ukraine, time is of the essence. That is why we are so pleased to hear that we could proceed immediately with this bill today so that it goes to the Senate and to the President's desk so that the assistance can reach the people of Ukraine and Eastern Europe. We cannot afford to wait. Again, time is of the essence.

The aid package we will pass today will be pivotal, and others have addressed what is in there in terms of weaponry and security issues, in terms of government and their economy, in terms of humanitarian assistance.

I was very pleased for the delegation to be joined by Chairman Jim McGovern, chair of the Rules Committee, but the chair always of the food security initiatives in the Congress. He made very clear the link between what Putin is doing in Ukraine and the impact it will have on the rest of the world in terms of starvation because Ukraine has been the breadbasket of Europe and the world. All of the product--whether it is sunflower oil, whether it is wheat, corn, whatever--going to Africa and other places in the world is essential to their food security.

The brutality of Putin is not just what he is doing in Ukraine but the impact that it is having on food for the world. So when you are home thinking of what this is all about, just think: ``When I was hungry, you fed me,'' the Gospel of Matthew.

I also was so pleased that Mr. Meeks, the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, was with us because we talked about sanctions, which are a product of his committee. I mention that because he knows his subject very well, as did President Zelenskyy. But the fact is, what we want to see is an end to war. If we could end war by using economic sanctions, all the better, all the better to spare human life on both sides of it.

But President Putin has initiated hostilities into a sovereign country with a band leading it, thinking that he was going to be well- received with a band. What could he have been thinking?

Again, Mr. Meeks, in terms of negotiations, in terms of sanctions and the rest, led our visit very well.

Mr. Schiff, the chair of the Intelligence Committee, had a very clear conversation with President Zelenskyy, the speaker of their parliament, and the Foreign Minister about how respectful of what the Ukrainians are doing with their own security--and not to be misled into thinking that anything but their own security has led to some of the successes they have had.

Barbara Lee, who we just heard from, the chair of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, just so remarkable in our visit to Poland to talk about how we have not only economic assistance or humanitarian assistance but accountability, as well as help for children who are suffering so much there.

Mr. Keating, a member of both the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services, was very much into the accountability piece. He is chair of the committee that is Europe, Eurasia, environment, global issues across borders and understood the need for us to have public support and accountability for what we give.

Jason Crow, a member of the Intelligence Committee and the Armed Services Committee, spoke with great authority about weapons systems and the rest with President Zelenskyy and his team, about what they need, what we can convey back, and what judgments are made in that regard.

What is interesting about Mr. Crow is that he was a member at another time, earlier in his life--which wasn't that long ago--he was a member of the 82nd Airborne. When we met with the 82nd Airborne in Poland, they were happy to welcome one of their former members. They spoke the same language, some hoots and hollers of some kind. I don't know. But nonetheless, his participation there was beneficial, especially when it came to comparing notes on weapons systems.

What I think is important for the American people to know is that what Putin has done is not only an act of brutality; it is an act of cowardice.

Who but a coward would pretend he is going to war and bomb a maternity hospital?

Who but a coward would have his soldiers resort to the cruelty of rape of children or their parents in front of them--boys and girls?

Who but a coward would pile these children in trains and take them to Russia?

All of this will be a matter of coming to justice at some point, but right now, we have to have it come to a conclusion that you don't do that. It is outside the circle of civilized human behavior.

Putin: Coward.

In any event, what we are doing here is very important. It is buying weaponry and security assistance, government and economic assistance, humanitarian assistance.

I thank Congresswoman Lee and Mr. McGovern for their focus on all of that, for the refugees, for the displaced within Ukraine, and for those who are trapped under fire without food or fresh water or anything because their civilian communities are being attacked by the coward Putin.

So, we are very proud of this effort today. We should all be very proud that we had the opportunity, when Putin decided whatever it is he decided, to be brutal and cruel and a coward, that we were there to help.

It is about democracy versus dictatorship. Democracy must prevail. Ukrainian people are fighting the fight for their democracy and, in doing so, for ours as well. We must help them win so that we can have bread for the world and feed the hungry, so we can stop the horrible behavior that they are doing in treating women and trafficking women and girls. This is unbelievable.

It is horrible, and the world needs to know why this is important. The world needs to know why we have decided to go forward with this as soon as possible.

This package builds upon the strong, ongoing support already delivered by the United States, thanks to the bipartisan, bicameral unity in the Congress and with the administration.

In our government funding legislation last March, we delivered $13.6 billion in humanitarian, security, and economic assistance. These resources are already reaching communities on the ground, helping the Ukrainians protect their people and repel Russian forces.

Just yesterday, President Biden proudly signed into law one of our consequential legislative initiatives, the revival of the historic lend-lease program. Lend-lease helped turn the tide in the fight against fascism in World War II, and it will be essential in our mission to rescue democracy from dictatorship today.

The House also passed one that I like to call seize and freeze: seize the Russian assets, freeze them, and then, to punish the Russian oligarchs funding this diabolical war, use the assets, when they thaw, to rebuild Ukraine.

At the same time, America has continued to move together with our allies to level a historic punishment against Putin for his senseless aggression, isolating Russia and devastating its economy.

I wish the people of Russia knew what he was doing to them, but he does not allow the truth to be heard by the Russian people.

I want to say one more thing about all of this, and that is, when we talk about our partners in NATO and the European Union, I want to sing their praises because they have seen that their dependence on Russian oil is a weapon of war for the Russians. They have seen that unless they diversify away from Russian oil, they will always be enslaved by needing that oil.

I am so pleased that they have made the decision that, in an appropriate timetable, they will be withdrawing from that, as we did in the House a number of weeks ago when we said--and the Senate did as well--we won't be purchasing any more Russian oil.

So again, for these and other reasons, it is just an honor to be associated with the courage of the people of Ukraine and the generosity of the people of Poland and other European countries that are receiving these refugees. They have opened their homes and their hearts to them, and we need to be helpful in every way that we can.

So, I salute our bipartisan leadership in bringing this to the floor.

I also thank Mr. Rogers. He was chair of the committee when I was on the committee, and I appreciated his remarks earlier.

Again, I thank Rosa DeLauro for the efficiency and directness with which she was ready to bring this to the floor the minute the President said we can proceed with it as a single measure.

I urge a strong bipartisan vote for this act of mercy.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the distinguished Mr. Wilson for yielding as well.

Madam Speaker, I am so pleased that this legislation has such strong bipartisan support on the floor of the House. It removes all doubt in anyone's mind that we are all committed as a Nation, as a Congress-- House and Senate--in terms of this legislation. I thank both gentlemen for their leadership.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate that the gentleman is working with the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, on this important issue as well, and I thank him for affording me this opportunity today.

Madam Speaker, 81 years ago, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt came here to the Congress of the United States, to the House of Representatives, where I am proud to say my father, Thomas D'Alesandro, served as a Member of Congress. And President Franklin Roosevelt delivered a bold and historic request.

In his 1941 State of the Union Address, President Roosevelt explained that democracy itself was under dire threat not only in Europe, but around the world. And he called on Congress to lend a hand to our Allies overseas, bolstering their defenses so they could defeat the evils of fascism.

It was this initiative that would be enacted just two months later that undeniably turned the tide of the Second World War. And the Lend- Lease program would help propel the allies to a victory that preserved the promise of democracy for generations to come.

Today, we see an echo of that chapter in history as a murderous tyrant seeks to conquer its neighbor and dismantle its democracy. And this moment demands we summon a commitment to respond.

The Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 revives this pivotal program, waiving time-consuming requirements and the President authority to send critical defensive resources to Ukraine.

It is important to note that it is about time. Time is very important when lives are at stake.

In doing so, we enable the administration to move faster to bolster Ukraine's security forces, empowering them to repel the Russian invaders; protect innocent civilians; and preserve their cherished democracy.

As war rages on Ukraine, every minute matters. It is about time. This strong action could mean the difference between lives saved and lives lost. In any given battle, it could mean the margin between victory and defeat.

It is with astonishing unity that the Senate sent us this important legislation after passing it with a unanimous vote.

And as we hope to secure a strong bipartisan vote here in the House, let us salute the leaders of this legislation, Chairman Gregory Meeks, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He acknowledged his ranking member, Mr. McCaul from Texas; Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who is managing the bill on the Republican side today; and Congressman Steve Cohen, who helms the Helsinki Commission and played a role in this legislation.

Madam Speaker, restoring the Lend-Lease authority is just the latest action proudly taken by this Congress to strengthen Ukraine and to decimate Russia. We have delivered billions in humanitarian security and economic assistance for Ukraine, including the $13.6 billion in the latest supplemental, and more to come, as our President has put forth a request earlier today that we will turn into legislation, turn into support democracy in Ukraine and, therefore, democracy in the world. I salute the President for his leadership.

These resources are already--of the $13.6 billion, are already reaching communities on the ground and helping Ukraine repel Russian forces. But we need to do more.

As we prepare to take up the President's new supplemental request, we are moving in lockstep with the administration and our allies to isolate Russia and devastate its economy.

From severing normal trade relations to banning the import of Russian energy, our strong actions in the House and in the Senate have made Russia weaker in every way. And the House took its first steps to prosecute Russian war crimes so the perpetrators can be held accountable for the unthinkable, grotesque, diabolical atrocities.

Later today, with the blessing of the Embassy of Ukraine, we will unveil in the Speaker's Dining Room--and we invite our Members to come and their guests--a photo exhibit that captures many of these atrocities.

These haunting photographs show the horror and heartbreak of Russia's callous aggression of Ukraine, and serve as an important reminder of our moral duty to continue to take swift, decisive action to help.

Going back to Lend-Lease, upon the enactment of the historic Lend- Lease law in March of 1941, Franklin Delano Roosevelt called upon the conscience of our country when he declared: ``The light of democracy must be kept burning. It is not enough for us merely to trim the wick or polish the glass. The time has come when we must provide the fuel in an ever-increasing amount to keep the flame alive.''

Madam Speaker, our task today remains the same.

I do want to acknowledge also another item, and I thank Mr. Chairman and others for their support of this. We are doing Lend-Lease today. We talked about what we did in the omnibus bill, the supplemental, $13.6 billion.

We talked about severing our purchase of oil. We have talked about severing our normal trade relations. But we also did something yesterday when we did what I call ``seize and freeze.'' Seize the assets of the oligarchs and the Russians, that money, and freeze it. And when it thaws, to use that money to help rebuild Ukraine after the victory over the Russians.

So, again, we are thinking of what we need to do in humanitarian assistance;

what we need to do in economic assistance; what we must do in security assistance, weapons, et cetera. But we have to do some other aspects as well.

Our task today, again, remains the same as it did with the original Lend-Lease. Make no mistake. Russia invaded with the stated goal of ending liberty and self-governance in Ukraine. Yet, with unimaginable courage and determination, the Ukrainian people are putting their lives on the line for democracy; not only for their own nation, but for democracy writ large for the world.

It is about freedom versus dictatorship; autocracy versus democracy. The Ukrainian people are making the fight for all of us. We must help them.

So, it is our duty to honor their heroism at the front lines of the battle for freedom by helping to fuel this righteous fight.

It is with endless admiration for the Ukrainian people and their leadership, President--just everybody. I won't start naming names. All of them. We have had visits from so many of them--and their unyielding commitment to keeping alight democracy's precious flame that I urge a strong, bipartisan ``aye'' vote for this vital legislation.

Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Slotkin for arranging for this Special Order and for just speaking so beautifully about Madeleine Albright, a person that we all loved so very, very much for so many years. And to hear the gentlewoman, a new Member, a relatively new Member of Congress, but a woman in national security making her own mark in a significant way, recognize the greatness of Madeleine, it is just a joy to us to see another generation of women leaders in security speaking about Madeleine.

Madeleine Albright was a stateswoman. She was a champion of national security in our country. She was

the embodiment of the American Dream; her family coming when she was 11 years old, a refugee to our shores. Her personal story is the makings of novels and movies and the rest.

But she was fresh and frisky, and she had a sense of humor that was wonderful. And I remember the night that there was a debate in St. Louis for the Presidential, when President Clinton was running for President; we had dinner after the debate. And I said well, Madeleine, would you like--are you interested in participating in the administration?

I was a relatively new Member of Congress at the time. And she said, I am not going--I don't want to go overseas. I said, I know what you want. You want to be Ambassador to the U.N. Because that would be of the stature, and yet she did not want to go overseas. She wanted to be home for all kinds of different reasons. And what a magnificent Ambassador she was for us to the United Nations.

And then, as it would turn out, to become the first woman to be Secretary of State. This is such an exalted position. Thomas Jefferson was Secretary of State. And Madeleine Albright was Secretary of State.

And as Congresswoman Slotkin said, she had boundless energy. She would be--well, she was on the campaign trail after serving as Secretary of State, on the campaign trail, and she was, as the gentlewoman said, a rock star. She was a major attraction. People loved to see her.

I want to say, because my husband loved her so much, my husband, Paul, who was the chairman of the board of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service for a couple of decades I think. It seemed like a long time. He worshipped at the shrine of Madeleine Albright. When she would call me, if he had the phone first, I would have a hard time getting it away from him because he thought they were the best of friends. She was my girlfriend in addition to being someone I admired so greatly.

And she would always call the day before your birthday because she wanted to be the first one to wish you happy birthday which, of course, I was looking forward to this year. And instead, we would get this very sad news, with all the dignity of Madeleine Albright, with all of the warmth and greatness of her, be with her family, right up to the end.

Alice, Anne, and Katherine, thank you for sharing your mother with us; and again, to sister, Kathy, and brother, John.

Another thing I want to mention about her is I don't know how many of you were at the funeral of Brzezinski, National Security Advisor Brzezinski. Two people spoke at his funeral in the church. Some of us spoke afterward in the more informal setting. But two people spoke at his funeral; President Jimmy Carter and Secretary Madeleine Albright. And what a beautiful compliment to speak for another great American patriot born overseas and coming to America to make his mark.

And she spoke so beautifully about America and about patriotism, about civic responsibility, and of the contribution he made; that she was chosen to make that speech with the President was really so clearly appropriate and great to hear her speak.

Now, she had a collection of pins, and she would always say, when she would go to give testimony or whatever it is, ``read my pins.'' Sometimes it would be an American eagle. We never knew what it might be. And she even toured the country with her pins, and people showed up to see Madeleine's pins, because she had something about her that was-- she knew how to connect with people. You know, this great intellect and the rest.

I will just go back to Paul in closing to say this: She taught at Georgetown for 40 years, for 40 years. The gentlewoman mentioned this next generation of young diplomats and the rest. They took such pride in her leadership, her service, her being a professor there, that they were cooking up how they were going to observe her 40 years and this or that; and again, she had other plans, to be in heaven and look down on all of us.

How wonderful it is that tomorrow, many of her friends from Congress and--she made us all feel as if we were her best friends. I mean, I thought so.

So many of her loved ones, whether they were diplomats or people in service, would be there to praise her as an Ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of State, she represented our Nation with great poise and distinction and brilliance on the world stage and worked relentlessly to keep Americans safe and America secure.

As a trusted voice on foreign policy, and those jobs, and beyond, and beyond, because her influence extended long after her actual service in public office, but also as a professor, she was quick to sound the alarm at the rise of autocracy. As you know, she wrote about that in her book, at home and abroad, a prescient warning that remains an important guide and resource today.

And then, as a professor at Georgetown, which we, the Pelosi family, take great pride. My husband went there; my kids went there; I have an honorary degree there, and we all feel associated with Madeleine.

She shaped the next generation of leadership by sharing her hard- earned wisdom and experience.

So tomorrow, many of her loved ones, whether it is from government, politics, security, academic world, friendship, girlfriends, hair dressers, wherever we met together, her family, first and foremost, which she loved so much, will join Madeleine's family and her loved ones to pay our final respects at her memorial at the glorious Washington National Cathedral.

I said final respects. I meant final respects for tomorrow. We will be paying our respects to her in many things that are being planned already. The presence of so many Members and diplomats at her memorial, and two Presidents of the United States to speak at her service, will be another testament to the monumental impact she made on our Nation and the world.

I wish everyone would read the op-ed that another Secretary of State, a national figure, Hillary Clinton, wrote about Madeleine Albright. They were kindred spirits. They loved each other very much. They worked together with great respect for each other and for our country in such a beautiful way.

Please, if you can, go to The New York Times and read what the Secretary of State--I think she may be speaking tomorrow, too. I don't know what the program is. I think she may be speaking tomorrow, too.

So God truly blessed America with the life and the service and the leadership and the goodness of Madeleine Albright. May she forever rest in peace.

And again, I thank Congresswoman Slotkin for affording us all the opportunity to pay our respects to our dear Madam Ambassador, Madam Secretary, Madeleine Albright.

Madam Speaker, as we speak, the battle for liberty and democracy rages on in Ukraine. Congress and the Country are in awe of the heroism and determination of the Ukrainian people--as they defend democracy in their homeland and in the world.

Tragically, the Russian response to their courage and resilience has been nothing short of monstrous. Since Russia's unlawful and unprovoked invasion, we have heard deeply disturbing reports out of Ukraine: demolishing a maternity hospital; bombing civilians fleeing the fighting; and killing innocent children.

As the State Department concluded on March 23rd, based on the information available, these barbaric attacks amount to war crimes.

Just this week, the world saw shocking and horrifying images of mass executions in Bucha--with the bodies of hundreds of slain civilians strewn throughout the city. Sadly, as President Zelenskyy reported to the United Nations Security Council yesterday, we have reason to believe this is happening elsewhere, too.

Sadly, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the massacre the world saw wasn't real--but a performance by actors playing dead.

This reality is sickening and heart-wrenching--and we cannot stay silent in the face of these outrageous and unthinkable atrocities.

Today, the House takes another important step to hold Putin and the Russian government accountable for this cruel brutality.

With the Ukraine War Crimes Act, we will ensure that the United States is collecting, analyzing and preserving evidence of Russian war crimes: an essential step so that the perpetrators can be prosecuted.

In doing so, we can help deter future war crimes--making it clear to Russian forces that the free world is closely watching.

This action follows the leadership of President Joe Biden, who has: capably orchestrated the West's strong, unified response; and demonstrated extraordinary moral clarity, among the first to call these heinous attacks what they are: war crimes.

Let us salute Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks and Ranking Member Michael McCaul, for their relentless leadership in introducing this strong legislation.

And I thank them for their commitment to bipartisanship: demonstrating our Nation's unity and resolve as we respond to Russia's aggression.

This legislation builds on ongoing, escalating efforts by the Congress, the Administration and our Allies to punish Putin for his crimes.

With historic speed and coordination with our allies abroad, America has led the world in isolating Russia and devastating its economy.

We have: cut off Russian banks and decimated its markets; choked off its access to technology; cracked down on the oligarchs funding this war--and much more.

The House has passed bold legislation to revoke normal trade relations from Russia and ban the import of Russian energy: two major steps that will further cripple Putin's war effort and the Russian economy.

At the same time, we have secured $13.6 billion in new humanitarian, security and economic assistance for Ukraine--which is already reaching people on the ground--as well as bolstered our support for NATO.

Our actions have left Russia weaker in every way. And now, we are taking further action to make sure Russia is held to account for its crimes.

This week, on Monday evening--54 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.--many of us gathered with the King family at the MLK Memorial.

At the foot of this spectacular monument to peace, the King family placed a sunflower wreath: a symbol of our unity with the people of Ukraine.

In his book Stride Toward Freedom, Dr. King wrote: ``He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.''

The legislation that the House will pass today will make clear that we stand firmly against the evil being perpetrated against Ukraine--and on the side of democracy, freedom and peace.

In memory of the victims of these horrific Russian war crimes--and in solidarity with those who remain in danger--I urge a strong, bipartisan ``aye'' vote on this legislation.

Madam Speaker, in my hometown of San Francisco, and in so many places across the country, small businesses are the heart of our communities.

They are the engines of our economy: creating good-paying jobs, delivering crucial goods and services, and helping power our historic economic recovery from the pandemic.

But tragically, when the virus struck two years ago, our small businesses--and especially our restaurants--were among the hardest hit.

Many were forced to scale back hours. Others had to lay off workers. And some even closed their doors for good.

That is why Democrats fought for and won billions in economic relief for our small businesses in COVID relief bills. In our historic American Rescue Plan, we established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund: a vital lifeline helping more than 100,000 restaurants reopen and rehire.

And today, the Democratic Congress will take another strong step to help our small businesses not only survive--but thrive.

With our Relief for Restaurants and Other Hard Hit Small Businesses Act, we deliver urgently needed relief to tens of thousands of businesses struggling in the wake of the latest COVID wave.

We salute Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez of the House Small Business Committee for her leadership and legislative mastery for the benefit of small businesses.

And let us thank Congressmen Earl Blumenauer and Dean Phillips for their tireless, committed leadership on behalf of our nations' restaurants and small businesses.

While small businesses have been on the path to recovery from the COVID crisis, the omicron variant sadly interrupted this progress. Now, many hard-hit businesses are in need of additional support.

Our bill delivers $42 billion to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund: offering a beacon of hope for the more than 170,000 eligible restaurants that applied for RRF funding last year but could not access this relief due to oversubscription.

We will also secure $13 billion to support many of our nation's smallest businesses who saw major revenue losses due to the pandemic.

And we will continue to support the live entertainment venues that bring rich vibrancy, culture and diversity to our communities: ensuring they have more flexibility to best make use of their relief funding.

Delivering desperately needed relief for America's small businesses-- the heart and soul of our nation--is an urgent economic imperative.

In doing so, we:

protect good-paying American jobs;

secure the livelihoods of hard-working small business owners; and

ensure families get goods they need, without added costs of delays.

I urge a strong, bipartisan ``aye'' vote for this relief package--so that our small businesses can continue to flourish and to serve our communities for generations to come.