Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I notice a little bit more of a smile on your face today than we have in the past.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today at the direction of the Democratic Caucus to place into nomination for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries from New York.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, you may agree with this, but we are back here 22 days into this Republican-manufactured chaos and House Republicans have brought us to the exact same position that we were back then. All of the infighting, all of the disarray just to end up where we were 3 weeks ago.

These past few weeks, we have been left wondering if Republicans were truly intent on solving our issues, reopening the House of Representatives, and rallying around someone to lead this Chamber, or has this been about something else? Has this been about a focus of House Republicans to find the person who can pass their extreme litmus test to oppose marriage equality, enact a nationwide abortion ban without exceptions, gut Social Security and Medicare, and support overturning a free and fair election?

It is a fair question. Nowhere in that candidate questionnaire is it about growing the middle class, helping our communities, keeping the costs of healthcare lower, and making life for everyday Americans better.

The gentlewoman from New York said it right: This has been about one thing. This has been about who can appease Donald Trump. House Republicans have put their names behind someone who has been called the most important architect of the electoral college objections.

He spearheaded the legal effort, joined by more than 100 of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle in support of a dangerous and baseless lawsuit to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

On the eve of January 6, some of my Republican colleagues even called this a failed strategy. Yet those same individuals plan to stand right next to him today.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, House Democrats believe that when Members of this body voted to reject the results of the 2020 election, they forfeited their ability to lead this Chamber.

On this side of the aisle, we know what leadership looks like. Hakeem Jeffries has never turned his back on the will of the American people. The son of two social workers, he has always stood by the side of working families. The most pressing needs of everyday Americans are his North Star. He believes that everyone in America should have the opportunity to get ahead and achieve their version of the American Dream. He believes that access to affordable healthcare is a right,

not a privilege. He believes that reproductive freedom must be guaranteed, not stripped away. He believes that working families, not the wealthy and the well-connected, should be rewarded. He believes in growing the middle class so that everyone can succeed. He believes that our schools and our communities should be safe and free from gun violence. He believes in investing in public schools, not depriving students of fact-based education by banning books. He believes in taking care of our seniors and our veterans, not slashing their benefits. He believes in living up to the promise that America is a beacon of hope and a land of opportunity. He believes in defending democracy against all enemies and adversaries, foreign and domestic. He believes in standing by our allies, Israel and Ukraine. He believes in keeping our government running and open.

Let me be clear: This is not just a belief system. Leader Jeffries has the track record to back it up. He is certainly a far contrast from who Republicans have nominated, with or without their votes, to nominate today, but if House Republicans choose they can still join us on a bipartisan path forward.

Let's come together to fund our government, support our allies abroad, and deliver for working families. Let's open up the people's House and end the chaos, end the dysfunction, end the extremism.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I rise today at the direction of the House Democratic Caucus to place into nomination for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

Here we are again, Mr. Speaker pro tempore, and I promise to make these speeches shorter if we get closer to a compromise, but I am not certain that is going to happen at this moment.

While the Republican candidate for Speaker is making late-night backroom deals to secure the gavel, Leader Jeffries has once again extended the hand of bipartisanship for a path forward.

One thing was very clear yesterday, the vote total: 212-200. The People's House has spoken and Leader Jeffries has the support to be the Speaker that this country needs. Mr. Speaker pro tempore, 212-200, no amount of election denying is going to take away from those vote totals.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, we shouldn't be surprised at the vote count. I noted yesterday the legislative acumen of the gentleman from Ohio. Would it surprise anyone that in addition to not passing a single piece of legislation, he has never put up a piece of legislation that has made it to a committee?

The Speaker of the House must be a legislator, and the gentleman from Ohio falls short in that regard. He supports an extreme agenda and is hell-bent on banning abortion nationwide, gutting Medicare, gutting Social Security, and giving cover to January 6 attackers. Those aren't the values that we share.

If we don't see a Speaker elected in this round, there is going to be another candidate, another internal Republican Conference vote, and a secret ballot. The country can't afford more delays and more chaos. Fifteen days should be enough.

House Democrats are united on this path forward. We are united behind Hakeem Jeffries. We are united to put people over politics, to lower costs, create better paying jobs, build safer communities, and defend democracy.

Once again, we are coming together to achieve this common goal, and that is to make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, Hakeem Jeffries has done what we haven't seen from the other side of the aisle, and that is to keep the Caucus united. When extreme MAGA Republicans vowed to send our country into a devastating default, it was Leader Jeffries who led House Democrats to reject the extremism and keep the government open. Mr. Speaker pro tempore, we have the vote totals to back that up.

It has been Leader Jeffries and House Democrats who have shown a willingness and a conviction to keep our promise to deliver for American families, and it will be Hakeem Jeffries who moves our body and our country forward on a bipartisan path.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, who on the other side of the aisle will take ``yes'' for an answer and work with us to achieve three common goals?

My colleague and good friend, the gentleman from Oklahoma, mentioned one of them: supporting assistance to Israel. What he left out was assistance to Ukraine and our national security objective.

Second, above all else, we must commit to keeping this government open and functioning.

Finally, Mr. Speaker pro tempore, we need to put this body on a bipartisan path to achieve real results for the American public. That is what we were sent to do. That is what we need to do. That is why Hakeem Jeffries is the leader we need at this time to lead this Chamber.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I would like to nominate Hakeem Jeffries as Speaker of the House.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, with great respect for this institution, as chairman of the Democratic Caucus, I am directed by the vote of that Caucus to present for election to the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives the name of the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, the pride of Crown Heights, a Representative from the State of New York.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, this is not the history we wanted to make here in the House. It is something that none of us imagined when we were sworn into this office.

We are here because the House has been thrown into chaos. We are here because this hallowed Chamber has been led to a breaking point by two dangerous forces: extremism and partisanship.

The American people placed their faith in us to tackle their most pressing issues: lowering costs, growing the middle class, and standing up to those set on delivering a national abortion ban.

The choice before us is simple: Come together on a bipartisan path forward or take us over the cliff. Abandon the extremism that is preventing us from getting things done or triple down on division and dysfunction.

A vote today to make the architect of a nationwide abortion ban, a vocal election denier, and an insurrection insider Speaker of this House would be a terrible message to the country and our allies.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, it would send an even more troubling message to our enemies that the very people who would seek to undermine democracy are rewarded with positions of immense power.

We are talking about someone who has spent his entire career trying to hold our country back, putting our national security in danger, attempting government shutdown after government shutdown, wasting taxpayer dollars on baseless investigations with dead ends, authoring the very bill that would ban abortion nationwide without exceptions, and inciting violence on this Chamber. Even leaders of his own

party have called him a legislative terrorist. He once said, ``I didn't come to Congress to make more laws.'' His words speak for themselves.

When New Yorkers recovering from Hurricane Sandy needed Congress to act, he said no.

When wildfires ravaged the West, destroying homes and businesses, and those residents needed disaster assistance, he said no.

When the Mississippi River floods devastated the South and communities across State lines needed Congress to act, he said no.

When our veterans were suffering from disease and dying as a result of their service to our country and Congress passed a bipartisan solution, he said no.

When our ally in Ukraine looked to Congress for additional support to help defeat Putin, he said no.

Just before Hamas' brutal terrorist attack on Israel, he said no to fully funding military aid for our ally.

This body is debating elevating a Speaker nominee who has not passed a single bill in 16 years. These are not the actions of someone interested in governing or bettering the lives of everyday Americans.

This is nothing less than the rejection of the oath that we swore to uphold as duly elected Members of this body.

But on this side of the aisle and throughout this Chamber, I am convinced that oath still matters. To fulfill our obligations to the American people, we have no choice today but to vote for a leader of both character and conviction.

When the Congress first began, we proudly stood next to him as our leader and made a promise to every American.

House Democrats would work to find common ground on the issues that matter most to the American people whenever possible, and we would stand up to extremism whenever necessary.

Only Hakeem Jeffries can be trusted to keep his word. Only Hakeem Jeffries can lead us out of the chaos and toward a path of governance.

It brings me immense pride to nominate our friend, the Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, as Speaker. He may just be the candidate with the most votes, but he is also the candidate with the most credibility.

If the goal is to continue a 30-year march to hollow out our Democratic institutions, weaken our democracy, and embolden extremists, there is a candidate for you.

If the goal is to continue taking marching orders from a twice- impeached former President with more than 90 pending felony charges, then there is a candidate for you.

The world is watching, Mr. Speaker pro tempore. Our allies in Ukraine and Israel are watching and waiting. Let's have this vote, but let's be clear: A vote for the gentleman from Ohio is a vote to turn your back on national security.

It is a vote to turn your back on a bipartisan path to fund the government and avoid shutdowns, something we can only do if we reject his nomination.

House Democrats are in the minority. We realize that. If House Republicans wanted to elect a Speaker without us, then they could have.

There is still a path forward for both Democrats and Republicans to come together to elect a Speaker who can unite us behind a common purpose; keeping the government open on a bipartisan compromise that won more than 300 votes just 4 months ago in this Chamber; taking an up-or-down vote on help so Israel can defeat Hamas and Ukraine can defeat Putin; and reassuring the American people that their legislators have their backs.

Mr. Speaker pro tempore, it is that simple, and we can do it today. Let's work together. Let's elect a Speaker who will reach out the hand of bipartisanship and deliver for the American people.

That is why, once again, Mr. Speaker pro tempore, I am proud to nominate Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ben F. Kolb Middle School students, teachers and administrators by congratulating them on being nationally recognized in the Schools to Watch Program, Kolb Middle School, located in the City of Rialto, was one of 36 new California schools selected in the Schools to Watch program in 2023.

The Schools to Watch program recognizes schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to academic excellence, foster positive school culture and support holistic student development. Schools chosen for this prestigious award are high-performing, model schools that demonstrate responsiveness to the needs of young students, social equity and exceptional academic performance.

Today, I offer my hearty congratulations to former Principal Armando Urteaga and his dedicated staff for their commitment to their students for not only developing a well-rounded academic curriculum, but also providing Social-Emotional Learning support. By ensuring their students develop healthy identities, learn how to manage their emotions and make responsible and caring decisions, Kolb Middle School has allowed Rialto students to thrive.

I'm incredibly proud of the hard work of our Kolb Cougars and celebrate the accomplishments of all the California schools recognized as Schools to Watch this year.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the resolution.

It is shameful that the temporary Republican majority continue to waste the American people's time with baseless accusations and rightwing conspiracy theories.

Instead of joining House Democrats to address the gun violence epidemic, we are forced to debate on gas stoves and partisan grudges. This resolution today is motivated by the same groups and individuals who to this day promote the lie that the 2020 election was stolen--a lie that Adam Schiff stood up to time and time again.

I have had the privilege of serving alongside Adam in the California delegation and the January 6th Committee. He has never shied away from taking on the toughest fights, and he is not going to be intimidated by anyone, including the former President or his allies.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand with the gentleman from California today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in opposition to this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Black Voice News, which has reported on seeking justice in the Inland Empire through their reporting for decades.

For the last 50 years, the Black Voice News has addressed issues such as disparities in healthcare, wealth, and education. This dedicated team of talented journalists has chronicled some of the most important stories impacting Black lives in my community and given a voice to our residents.

They have lifted up the stories of middle-class families doing their best, through joys and sorrows, to carve out a better life for themselves and their families.

The Inland Empire residents deserve to have access to local news, and Black Voice News provides that.

I am so proud of everything this publication has accomplished over the last 50 years, and I am excited to see what is to come in the next 50.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the veterans, public schoolteachers, and seniors in my district. These are the hostages the most extreme members of the Republican Conference have bragged about.

We are on the verge of a Republican-led default because the people calling the shots in this Chamber are the same people who want cuts to veterans' healthcare and manufacturing jobs.

These draconian cuts will have a direct impact on my community in the Inland Empire and the State of California.

In my district alone, approximately 6,900 jobs could be wiped out, Social Security payments for 58,000 families will be jeopardized, and the retirement savings for 81,500 people could disappear.

In the State of California, approximately 4 million people could lose health insurance, and housing costs will increase for 83,200 people.

This is unacceptable, and Americans deserve better.

House Republicans need to drop their ransom note and come to their senses so we can avoid a devastating default and put the American people first.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Detective Agnes Watson from the City of Rialto Police Department. Detective Watson was awarded the Rialto Police Department's Meritorious Service Award for her tenacious work to secure the release of a juvenile

who had been held hostage in New York City. This is the second highest recognition award a sworn member of the Rialto Police Department may receive.

On May 2, 2022, Detective Watson began following up on a missing juvenile report. Her instinct, initiative and discipline led her to believe the girl's disappearance was not voluntary. Her determination led her to take extraordinary steps to notify local agencies and coordinate with the New York Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to save this child's life and fly her back to Rialto to be reunited with her family on Mother's Day.

Detective Watson's actions made national news, bringing credit to herself and to the entire Rialto Police Department. This is just one example of the outstanding job performance, high degree of initiative and ability in an extremely critical situation that Detective Watson demonstrates on a daily basis. That's why I am proud to recognize her.

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize Ms. Trini Gomez, a constituent and friend, as she celebrates her 98th birthday. We celebrate the remarkable life she has led.

Her dedication to serving the Hispanic community through managing the Inland Empire Hispanic News has made a lasting impact on our community. She and her late husband. Graciano Gomez, provided a platform for voices that needed to be heard, shedding light on important issues, celebrating achievements and fostering a sense of unity among the Inland Empire.

Her life journey is an inspiration to all of us. On this special day we honor her incredible achievements and the inspirational person she is. I hope her birthday is filled with joy, surrounded by loved ones who cherish and admire her.

Today, I thank her for being an extraordinary role model and for inspiring us all with her unwavering dedication and love for our community. May the coming year bring her good health, happiness and many more cherished memories.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize three phenomenal women in my district for Women's History Month. These women were nominated by their peers and local elected officials for their incredible dedication to supporting the Inland Empire.

The first woman I recognize is Dr. Gwen Dowdy-Rodgers. Dr. Dowdy- Rodgers is the first Black woman to serve on the San Bernardino County Board of Education. She was born and raised in San Bernardino, and first became involved in the school system as a parent advocate.

She is a fierce advocate for mental health in schools, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. She believes that mental health issues need to be a priority in schools so students can stay happy and healthy in their learning environment.

Besides serving with distinction on the Board of Education, she serves as the president of the Arrowhead United Way board of directors, co-chair of the San Bernardino County Gangs and Drugs Task Force, and a member of the San Bernardino City Police Department African American Advisory Committee.

My community is lucky to have Dr. Dowdy-Rodgers, a committed public servant dedicated to helping our students and hearing the concerns of parents.

The second woman I recognize is Ms. Vanessa Perez. Vanessa is executive director of the Time for Change Foundation. She is an active volunteer in our community through her work and her involvement in her church, The Way World Outreach.

Through her work at Time for Change, Vanessa is living out a passion of empowering women to use their voice to create change. In 2014, she completed the Women's Foundation of California's Solis Policy Institute, which provided her with the skills necessary to navigate the California legislative process and influence decisionmakers to create policies that improved the quality of life of San Bernardino residents and all Californians.

Madam Speaker, the third woman I recognize is Ms. Paula Granado Flores. She is a long-term volunteer and co-chair of ACS Colton Relay for Life and a frequent volunteer in several local churches, Seeds For Hope, and the American Legion. Ms. Flores has dedicated her free time for decades to help the residents of San Bernardino County.

These women are changing my community for the better every day, and I am proud to be their Representative here in Congress. They have made a lasting impact in our region and deserve to be recognized for the extraordinary work that they have done to further our community.

As we round out Women's History Month, I thank them for their service to our region, to the Inland Empire, and to the State of California.

Madam Speaker, by direction of the Democratic Caucus, I offer a privileged resolution and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for his leadership, and I thank the chairman for his important work in this Congress and in this committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1226, the Wounded Warrior Access Act, for the same reasons my colleagues had mentioned.

When a veteran files their claim for benefits, they are given the C- file. For a veteran to view this C-file, they must either make an appointment at their local VA office, travel there to view it in person, submit a form through the mail or fax with no confirmation that it was ever received, or submit a Freedom of Information Act request for their file.

Throughout my time in Congress--I know I am not the only Member who has heard from a number of veterans who have had trouble accessing their C-files from the VA.

Just to put this in context, Mr. Speaker, our veterans need these files to access the benefits that they have earned or appeal the VA's decisions about their claim. That is why, Mr. Speaker, this is so important.

Veterans in the Inland Empire and across this country need an easy way to access this information without jumping through bureaucratic hoops.

This bipartisan bill is a commonsense solution that cuts this red tape and will help American veterans.

I again thank Chairman Bost, Ranking Member Takano, and members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1226.