Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this week, we celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

As we finish this month of fasting, I want to recognize the beautiful Muslim community in Michigan's 12th Congressional District and around the world. Eid Mubarak.

This Ramadan has been a time of deep spiritual reflection and an opportunity to be in community with each other, but it also has been a painful time for so many Muslim families around the world.

I remind my colleagues that many of the Muslim families you represent are thinking of the Palestinians in Gaza who continue to be starved and ethnically cleansed. On the day of Eid, when children were celebrating in their Sunday best, as many call it, they were killed. They were killed as they were celebrating Eid.

As we gather to celebrate Eid, we have to also recognize and hold in our hearts all those facing violence and oppression around the world.

May this Eid bring peace, justice, and freedom for all.

Mr. Speaker, the SAVE Act is not about protecting elections; it is about silencing voters. It is voter suppression, plain and simple. The so-called SAVE Act is also attacking, of course, voting rights and our access to the ballot box.

This bill would create unnecessary new barriers that would disenfranchise millions of Americans. This bill would also increase the purges of registered voters, literally kicking people off the list.

Very clearly, Federal law already prohibits noncitizens from voting in Federal and State elections. Over 21 million Americans lack easy access to the documents this law would require for voter registration.

The SAVE Act would target marginalized communities like those in my district, and of course impacting people of color, naturalized citizens, and low-income folks. Mr. Speaker, 69 million American women would also be unable to register to vote simply because they changed their last name after they got married.

We need to pass legislation to stop billionaires from buying our elections, not making it harder for the American people to vote. I am going to vote ``no'' on this bill. I did it last term, and I am going to do it again. Shame on those who continue to support this kind of legislation.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, this bill is yet another Republican attack aimed at dismantling higher education in our Nation.

Last week, we know that President Trump ordered the illegal elimination of the Department of Education, threatening the future of millions of children across every district in our country. He is using the threat of cutting off Federal funding as a negative approach, very much taking a tool right here to pressure the universities and administrations to submit to his will in violation of freedom of speech for their students.

Mr. Chair, instead of addressing any of these crises threatening our students in our education system, we are here voting today on a bill that goes after foreign scapegoats instead.

We know that President Trump is the biggest threat to our education system in America right now, not someone in North Korea or China. Please, give me a break.

I fully support financial transparency in our universities. No one is against that. No one. That is why I am introducing amendments to this bill to ensure that transparency around our universities and the relationships with so-called countries of concern include countries whose leaders have active arrest warrants issued against them by the International Criminal Court, to include countries actively on trial with the International Court of Justice for violating the Genocide Convention and the Geneva Conventions.

I am calling for transparency, Mr. Chair, around university investments in companies profiting from violations of international law, but my colleagues are not interested, of course, when it comes to that sort of transparency. My colleagues are not interested in holding countries with human rights abuses accountable. They are not interested in voting to uphold international law, Mr. Chair. They are only interested in voting to protect governments like the Israeli Government's apartheid regime.

In fact, many of my colleagues have cheered on expulsion, arrest, and deportation of university students calling for the exact type of transparency and exercising their First Amendment right, Mr. Chair, their constitutional right. You don't have to agree with them, Mr. Chair, no one does, but it is their right. It is their right to again express their disagreement with policy and decisions by a foreign government.

In fact, many of my colleagues again continue to say there is transparency for some countries in relationships with universities but not certain other countries, even if they have an investigation actively with the international court system.

This is not about transparency, as is claimed. It is truly about destroying freedom of speech and the most important American value in our country, the right to dissent.

Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I think ``countries of concern'' is perfectly explained in my amendment. That is to say, again, I know for a fact that some of these countries killed American citizens. Some of them are literally openly killing American citizens, and the countries of concern, to explain--this is so important--that the International Court of Justice, if there is any violation, these are violations to the Geneva Convention and the Genocide Convention.

If we are specifically talking about making sure that universities are not engaging in whatever they are calling

so-called threats our country, why is it that certain countries, again, who are under investigation for violating international law, many of which are under investigation for war crimes like bombing hospitals and schools and everything, are using it in the way that is also violating people's freedom of speech? They are using some of the resources they have in silencing many university students, especially those speaking out against genocide that is happening in Gaza.

I think it is important that if we are for transparency, let's talk about all violations of international law and human rights in all countries, again, countries of interest to include all of those folks that have active cases and arrest warrants for the people running their country.

We can go back and forth about whether or not we think the ICC is legitimate, but it exists. It exists to prevent what is actually happening right now. I think it is important that if we are going to be consistent about whether or not we are protecting American interests, what about Americans that are being killed by countries of interest that I am trying to include here? What about them? What about the folks whose rights continue to be violated when they travel to those countries?

I think it is really important and critical that if we are going to say this to universities and that we are targeting higher education, that we are consistent in what we say is a violation of international law and human rights.

I think, Mr. Chair, it is so important that we continue to protect the American interests. Right now it is very clear that this is an attack. The opposition to this is because it is an attack on the fact that many folks want the right to speak out against certain countries that are violating international law.

It is critical that we protect the right to dissent in our country. So many of my colleagues, even when I don't agree with them, I protect their right to speak up and say whatever they want, even if I disagree.

I know what this is about. This is about silencing people. If my colleagues are going to do it, they better include the folks committing genocide. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chair, this amendment is to discuss whether or not, again, our body, the United States House of Representatives, is standing and making sure that we don't undermine international law and the institutions that work to uphold it, especially the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

I think it is incredibly harmful to allow many of my colleagues to take great lengths right here to protect war criminals, apartheid regimes, folks that continue to commit war crimes in targeting civilians including tent communities, schools, and hospitals. This bill undermines the international legal system for seeking to hold various officials, again, countries that are violating crimes against humanity.

Again, it is really important. My amendment basically allows us to include countries that are currently under investigation or their leaders have been convicted or have an arrest warrant out for the fact that they have committed violation of international human rights laws.

I know when it comes to Russia or China, my colleagues like to talk about rule-based international order. When it comes to governments like the government of Israel, my colleagues are willing to throw international law in the shredder. Their actions consistently undermine the principle of equal justice under law when they protect perpetrators of the most horrific crimes against humanity.

I wish my colleagues would see what is happening. I wish they would see that, no matter their ethnicity, we should be saving the lives of the children. We shouldn't allow it to be enabled or emboldened. Their actions consistently undermine the principle of equal justice.

Of course, it is up to world leaders everywhere to affirm our commitment to international law, but let's be consistent about it. No matter who is committing it, it still is a violation of international human rights laws.

It is important to support the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court. They were created so we can prevent genocide and so we can stop what is happening in Gaza.

Mr. Chair, I think it is really important to understand the International Criminal Court right now is investigating right now an active case against what is happening in Sudan. Are we saying we are not caring?

I completely agree. Any country--Iran, China, Russia--any country that has an active investigation or has arrest warrants for their leadership in the International Criminal Court system and these international systems that are in place was to prevent and, again, protect the interests of the American people.

All of us support upholding international law because it protects our country, but it protects the rule of law in making sure that war crimes are not being committed.

Mr. Chair, I really urge my colleagues to understand we need to be consistent here. If you are going to say we are going to go after universities--because I know what this is really about. Is this really about China and Russia and protecting our interests, or is this really about trying to not protect certain people for speaking up in regard to what is happening in Gaza?

The attack on higher education right now and freedom of speech is incredibly dangerous. The right to dissent in our country, the freedom of speech, First Amendment--you do not have to agree. I was on my campus when I didn't agree with what people said about immigrants and what people said about other countries. I understood the American value of people having their rights and their First Amendment right to speak up.

What we are doing here is attacking and targeting universities because we don't like that their student body read about the atrocities that the Government of Israel is doing. That is what this is about. I think people need to be honest what this is about and not shy around about it.

I will say the international court system that is in place was created because of some horrific history that has happened in our world, and we are trying to prevent it. For us to now say it is illegitimate is wrong, and it is not the direction we should be going in. This is literally the place, again, that is investigating a number of other countries for egregious war crimes and egregious violence on women and children.

Now, because we don't agree that they went after one country--again, many of my colleagues disagree with me--I can tell you it takes a lot of investigation, talking to doctors, nurses, so many people on the ground, NGOs and other international organizations that led to, again, the investigation that has led into International Criminal Court.

Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Mr. Chair, in closing, I think it is important to know right now the International Court of Justice is investigating Congo, Uganda, Philippines, Venezuela, and Sudan. These are countries that have been under investigation by the International Criminal Court.

I don't have all the details, but it I think it is important to understand we can't delegitimize when it is a country that we disagree is committing these crimes. The process is there for a reason, Mr. Chair. Again, it is to make sure we uphold international human rights laws, no matter who is committing those egregious crimes.

Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. Speaker, water is a human right. We can't live without it, but far too often our government treats it as just another product to be sold.

In Michigan, the Great Lakes Water Authority voted to increase water rates by 5.9 percent and sewage rates by 4.5 percent. They approved these unaffordable increases despite unanimous and passionate public opposition, Mr. Speaker.

I want folks to imagine how it feels for many of our residents in Detroit who have been living out of hotels for weeks after a massive water main break flooded their neighborhood, their homes, and even their vehicles. Now they are going to have to be paying more for their water.

The Trump administration is already slashing every critical support program that the most vulnerable in our communities, especially our seniors, rely on to pay their bills. This will mean more water shutoffs and more stories of families melting snow and harvesting rainwater to shower and cook with.

Our policy has to meet our principles. Water must be a human right in the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District recognizes the incredible contributions of Zagloul ``Abu Saad'' Kadah, a pioneering Syrian American entrepreneur and innovator in Silicon Valley. His lifelong dedication to technology, business, and mentorship has paved the way for countless others in the industry.

After immigrating to the United States in 1966, Zagloul earned his M.S. in electronics from San Jose State University while working and raising a family. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish successful businesses in solid-state relay design and laser services for the medical industry. Beyond his professional achievements, he has dedicated himself to research and writing on religion and philosophy.

On February 21, 2025, Sync--Syria--Silicon Valley honored Zagloul with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his legacy. His work has inspired a new generation of Syrian technologists, and his impact will continue to be felt for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the life and legacy of Dr. Rene Lichtman, a Holocaust survivor and activist in our community who was deeply committed to justice in Southeast Michigan and around the world.

Rene, who passed away at 87, dedicated his life to teaching others about the Holocaust, ensuring that the stories of survivors would never be forgotten. Through his art, film, and photography, he captured the resilience of the human spirit, and through his activism, he fought for social justice and an end to human suffering.

At the age of 63, Rene got his PhD in instructional technology and spent two decades working at Beaumont Hospital. Even at the end of his life, Rene was painting, organizing with JVP Detroit, and standing up for Palestinian human rights. His impact and legacy will live on through his work and the countless lives he touched. May his memory be a blessing.

Mr. Speaker, I remind many of my constituents in the 12th Congressional District that I hear you and I understand the pain and the fear that you all are going through as you continue to hear about the $880 billion in Medicaid cuts.

The budget proposal, that overwhelmingly on party lines Republicans supported, cuts the very health coverage for those that only use it for long-term care. Families and parents that have a child with disabilities and special needs rely heavily on this.

I remind you all, the Trump administration continues to really attack the values that we have in regard to taking care of our most vulnerable. However, shredding the Constitution--that is what I kept really seeing as I continued to watch the joint address. He is illegally dismantling--I say illegally, not me, but the judges continue to say that it is illegal--dismantling Federal agencies that we have authorized to provide services for our families.

Mr. Speaker, I remind folks that 60 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. In Michigan, 2.6 million residents have Medicaid. We have got to stick with the people, not the billionaires.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend, Rene Lichtman, a Holocaust survivor and activist in our community who was deeply committed to justice in southeastern Michigan and around the world. He was my adopted ``amo,'' ``uncle.''

Rene, who passed away at 87 years old, dedicated his life to teaching others about the Holocaust, ensuring that stories of survivors would never be forgotten. He worked so hard to live by the mission of Never Again to anyone.

Through his art, film, and photography, he captured the resilience of the human spirit, and through his activism, he fought for social justice and an end to human suffering.

At the age of 63, Rene got his Ph.D. in instructional technology and spent two decades working at a hospital in our community.

Even in the end of his life, Rene was painting, organizing with Jewish forces for peace in Detroit, and standing up for Palestinian human rights.

Rene's impact and legacy will live through his work and the countless lives he touched. May his memory and work live forever.

I will miss you, Rene. I love you.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans are ramming through $4.5 trillion in tax cuts for billionaires and corporations. Look it up, Mr. Speaker. We are not making it up. So when I hear people say that is not what is happening when it is very evident, when Republicans are cutting $880 billion, specifically in a committee that works on Medicaid, where do people think it is going to come from?

For this Chamber to be able to pay for the cuts for the billionaires and powerful corporations, they are literally ripping healthcare away from millions of our families. Nearly 80 million people across the country rely on Medicaid and the children's health insurance program for access to healthcare.

Medicaid is a program that provides prenatal care for expectant mothers, vaccinations for our children, and treatments for chronic conditions. It is a program that ensures that people don't have to choose between paying for their medication and putting food on the table.

We all know our healthcare system is broken. It is inhumane. They can't do it alone.

For those who rely on Medicaid, it is not just a service, Mr. Speaker. It is the difference between life and death. Right now, the future of Medicaid is under threat. It is clear as day when Republicans cut $880 billion.

Under the budget that many of my colleagues passed last night, more than 250,000 people alone in my own district will be impacted. Mr. Speaker, 2.6 million across the State of Michigan will be impacted.

These are not just numbers. They are our neighbors, our friends, our families, and parents who have special needs children. They depend on Medicaid for treatment and medication that is life or death, for health services they simply cannot afford elsewhere because we have sick care in our country, and we haven't had the courage to take on the industry.

Among them, of course, are thousands and thousands of children. I know seniors and people with disabilities will be at the top of being directly impacted.

Medicaid, Mr. Speaker, is the primary source for long-term care in our country. Long-term care in our country depends on Medicaid funding.

In my district alone, I have 22,000 seniors above the age of 65 who rely on it. Again, many of them rely on the necessary care and services because of Medicare, to live in dignity in their later years.

Without Medicaid, our seniors could be forced to live without healthcare protections at the moment they need them the most.

Make no mistake: Republicans want to give away trillions of dollars to the richest people in the world. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to pay for it by risking the lives of children and seniors. The majority is fully aware of what the impact is in their own communities, but my Republican colleagues did it anyway because the majority is convincing themselves that it is not happening and it is not going to happen.

We will see. Remember those words when Republicans said it wasn't in there. We will see what the impact will be on our families.

Please, to all our residents across the country: Raise your voices and fight. Fight for our families. Share your stories. We must continue to demand that healthcare is a right in our country and not a privilege. We will not allow them to fund tax cuts for billionaires, who can afford healthcare, by stripping away healthcare for our most vulnerable.

Federal Workers

Mr. Speaker, we are not an experiment for Elon Musk to play with. We are not. The Trump administration's ongoing attacks on the Federal workforce is out of control. It is chaotic. It is harmful.

Mr. Speaker, two children froze to death in the city I grew up in because they couldn't access housing resources. They kept calling. At that moment, though, we were letting go of the HUD workers who oversaw compliance of the Detroit Housing Commission.

I see that, within the Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit, 28 veteran workers, some who cleaned the surgical equipment, were fired yesterday. What happens?

Cuts to our Federal workforce have real-life impacts. Dozens of workers have just been fired, not only at the Dingell VA Medical Center, but with our HUD programs, FEMA, EPA, you name it.

This administration is sending a message that they couldn't care less about not only our veterans, but the fact that we have a right to breathe clean air and we have a right to be protected by those who abuse their power.

What the administration is doing is so incredibly harmful that they keep reversing their decisions, again creating this kind of chaos that is creating fear among our families and impacting their services.

Mr. Speaker, these unaccountable billionaires are coming after all of our Federal workers, and it is an important reminder that it is not just a worker, but that these are individuals. Behind every single worker is a Federal program that helps our families.

Mr. Speaker, here we go again. We are voting on yet another bill that just promotes racial profiling.

That is exactly what is happening because Americans right now who are Brown or Black or have an accent and who are American citizens are carrying passports with them. Why? It is because we are going to allow the targeting of communities that look like my district, to police them and to militarize them.

This bill strips away the right to due process. We already know that. I think that many of my colleagues who are supporting this know that.

This is going to target even legal permanent residents. The majority is going to separate families instantly without ever allowing anyone to be able to go to trial or even have a conviction. It is absolutely and clearly unconstitutional.

Everyone in our country has rights, and I want my residents to hear me say this again: Everyone has rights, no matter their status, in the United States of America.

This is what Republicans want. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to make racial profiling the law of the land and make discrimination the law of the land. That is what my Republican colleagues want. Republican Members want to go back to that kind of militarization and policing of targeting people who look like my mother and who look like my neighbors in the 12th Congressional District.

Mr. Speaker, I will be very clear, though. What my colleagues don't get, and I want my residents to hear me when I say this, is that no President--none--has the power to end constitutional rights, the right to due process; not one.

Mr. Speaker, this is not about fixing our immigration system. The dollars and the people who support measures like this and the fear- mongering want a broken immigration system because, as the ranking member probably knows, they make money off of our broken immigration system.

If my colleagues really wanted to address it, let's get to the core issues of the fact of who is benefiting the most from not allowing our families and our loved ones who have been here for decades and years to be able to have a pathway to citizenship. It is because someone benefits from it, and it is unfortunate.

Mr. Speaker, Democrats will have the backs of our immigrant neighbors and even our American citizens who feel like they are being targeted by this law.

Mr. Speaker, I want to share the words of a mother in Detroit who today said she was sorry but she tried. She is talking about the fact that she was evicted. A mother of five, she had no choice but to park her minivan in the parking lot of downtown Detroit on one of our coldest nights. She lost two of her children, a 2-year- old and a 9-year-old. They froze to death in the car.

We know that last year we saw a record 18 percent rise in homelessness in our country. Nearly 150,000 children are unhoused every night. We know, again, that our country spends trillions of dollars, though, on weapons and war, while children freeze to death in our country.

It is estimated that ending homelessness in our country could cost as little as $11 billion. The Pentagon spends $12 billion a year on F-35 jets that can't even fly in the rain. Our priorities are fundamentally broken.

I want to tell Ms. Williams we failed her. She should not be apologizing because she tried. We are not trying hard enough here in this institution to protect her and her children.

Madam Speaker, any day now, President Trump is gearing up to shut down the Department of Education. This is the latest power grab, an assault on our kids, an assault on our teachers, and an assault on our families in our district that rely on public education.

The Department of Education is a lifeline for many low-income residents and students. When the President says he wants to abolish it, he is coming after communities like Detroit, Southfield, Dearborn, and Livonia.

The Department's title I funding ensures all children, regardless of which ZIP Code they were born in, can access public education, quality education.

Here we go. The President is attacking public school students. More than half of our Nation's public schools educate low-income kids but also students with special needs. They are going after the different programs that help children living with autism, children having learning disabilities, needing that special care. I know that it is the public education system that takes them in and takes care of them and ensures that they have access to quality education.

We also know that States across the country want to whitewash Black history. They are already going after it, as if Black history is not American history.

We also know they want to erase the existence of LGBTQI+ students and discriminate against our children.

I know without the Department of Education, no one will be left to ensure civil rights laws are enforced in our schools. We know that community college students in my district alone will particularly suffer, because 50 percent of Henry Ford College in my district receives Pell grants that are going and administered through the Department of Education.

I know folks are thinking it is never going to happen. It already has started.

If my colleagues support abolishing the Department of Education, then they should publicly do it. Vote on it on this House floor. Don't allow the little minion billionaire to do it. If they want to do it, then their residents, the American people, deserve to see how they will vote. Will they leave our children behind or not?

It is important, critically important, that we do this in a transparent way, because I know my residents want me on record voting against abolishing public education.

Abolishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Madam Speaker, here we go. Elon Musk, the richest man on the planet, and Russ Vought, the guy who wrote Project 2025, want to shut down the 911 agency for fraud and consumer protection that many of us call the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

This is where my residents call for mortgage fraud, to fight against different scams that they fall victim to because we haven't done a good job preventing folks from out of the country and others targeting our seniors and so many others.

Financial predators like Wall Street and CEOs despise the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. I wonder why. That is because it is the only agency whose sole mission is to protect working people from getting ripped off.

I still remember the success we had in going after loan servicers for student loans, getting back millions of dollars to people who were directly impacted by those scams.

Shutting down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau lets financial predators run wild, and working-class families will pay the price.

Since it was created, we know it forced big banks and powerful corporations to give $21 billion back to our families that were cheated, but here we go. President Trump's minion, Elon Musk, wants to steal hard-earned money from the working class to reward their billionaire donors and CEOs, to protect them, not us.

I know that the CFPB has had a huge impact on the lives of my residents, doing things like capping credit card late fees, holding companies who break the law accountable, targeting junk fees, and eliminating $49 billion in medical debt from people's credit reports.

Think about that. No one plans to get sick. We have sick care in our country, not healthcare. No one should have to file bankruptcy because they got sick, and they couldn't afford to take care of themselves.

They helped also protect 15 million Americans that have medical debt on their credit report. It was supposed to be implemented in March to remove medical debt from people's credit report. It doesn't belong there.

I know that doesn't matter to these billionaires, but it makes a world of difference for our families who are just trying to make ends meet. They want to make sure that our government is about people, that we have their back. I know the 911 call they make to this agency to protect them has made a difference, but they want to eliminate that.

If they want to get rid of this agency, do it publicly. Vote on it. I have no idea why they are handing their duties and responsibilities and the oath of this office over to a billionaire that never took the oath.

Madam Speaker, this is just the latest in a long line of loopholes and handouts for Big Oil executives to get richer as the rest of us suffer.

Fracking is practically unregulated at the Federal level because 20 years ago then-Vice President Dick Cheney, the former CEO of Halliburton, inserted a loophole into the Energy Act of 2005, explicitly exempting fracking chemicals from EPA regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Think about that, Madam Speaker. That means that the oil and gas industry doesn't need to disclose any of the toxic chemicals that are seeping into our drinking water. Halliburton, of course, is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world and also just happens to be behind most of the major fracking worldwide.

For the last 20 years, we have been stuck with the so-called Halliburton loophole, a terrible reminder of the revolving door of oil money in politics and how Big Oil buys its way into the Halls of Congress and the White House every single day. In fact, our new Secretary of Energy is the founder and former CEO of Liberty Energy, another fracking company.

Moreover, the Halliburton loophole isn't the only giveaway that fracking benefits from. Under the Clean Water Act, there are provisions to prevent polluted stormwater runoff from contaminating our waters unless--there is an exemption--the runoff comes from oil and gas development facilities.

Republicans want to give an even bigger handout to Big Oil with this toxic legislation. They are sending the message to communities all across the country, our residents, that corporate polluters' profits are more important than their health and their own drinking water. It is clear that they are doing this because it has been polluters over people for Republicans 20 years ago, and it is polluters over people now.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this environmental destruction and protect our drinking water that is in crisis right now throughout our country.

Mr. Speaker, I know that Black History Month is a time to celebrate and recommit to the fight for justice and Black liberation in Michigan's 12th Congressional District and beyond.

I am proud that I was born and raised in the most beautiful, Blackest city in the country, the city of Detroit, where movements are born and where history is made every single day. Time and time again, we see efforts to erase our history.

Systemic racism continues to be codified into our laws and into our budgets. I know the current administration is now attempting to dismantle foundational civil rights protections, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and roll back our hard-won progress here in our country.

No matter how much they want to whitewash it, they cannot erase Black history. Black history is American history. There would be no United States of America without the contributions of our Black neighbors. Black lives matter, and Black history matters.

Mr. Speaker, eggs in my district are $9.19 or, as one resident said, it is ten bucks to buy eggs, Rashida.

I want everyone to think about this because the Federal minimum wage is $7.25 right now. We know grocery prices are out of control, and our government is failing to lower costs for working families. This is why my residents don't call it the minimum wage. They call it the starvation wage. It has been 16 years since Congress has raised the Federal minimum wage.

Let's get to the core value here of understanding this. A mother in our country right now can work for an hour and not be able to afford eggs. It is really unacceptable. I heard the reasons, but they still don't add up. It is

unacceptable that billionaires and corporations are consolidating their power and price gouging the American people, our families.

This crisis should be our focus. I understand that there are many dynamics that they keep putting forward. Why aren't we doing anything about it? Fear and division keep us distracted from what is really going on. Those that are rich and wealthy in our country become richer under every single decision I have seen so far.

One glaring thing missing in the 200 executive orders that we have seen this week is any mention of lowering the grocery prices for our families, not one word. We know there have been promises made by this current administration that they are going to lower costs for Americans on day one. Three weeks into the new Congress, we haven't seen a single bill come to the floor on this issue.

In my district they are drowning in the high costs of healthcare. Don't get me started about auto insurance, which is now up 40 percent, many paying almost the cost of rent, the cost of their mortgage to have auto insurance which is required by law to have if a person owns a vehicle.

Instead, we are seeing threats of tariffs that will drive grocery prices higher. Instead, we see them getting rid of protections for discriminatory actions by companies, by actors that we know fully intended to benefit from racist policies.

I know that this doesn't matter to the current President and his billionaire friends. They don't worry about the cost of a carton of eggs or milk or groceries, especially when the three wealthiest men in America are sitting right behind the current President at his inauguration. Their combined worth, so that the American people understand, is $911 billion.

It is clear that the billionaires now control our government, and this Chamber can't let that happen. We need legislative action to lower the cost of living for the American people. Trust me that this is a bipartisan issue. Every corner of our country is asking us to do something about this.

These are issues that, again, matter to many, many families. That is why my residents care about it so much. Stop with the fear-mongering and the hate. I know you are distracting us because you are helping your billionaire friends, but you are hurting so many American people who are drowning right now with the cost of living.

Embracing Immigrants

Mr. Speaker, immigrants in our country are already under attack, especially our undocumented neighbors. These are hateful and divisive executive orders and a violent assault on our communities and our country. Our very identity, as we all know, is a nation of immigrants.

I wouldn't be here as a child of immigrants. My father, with only a fourth grade education, was able to work in the auto plant line. My mother only had an eighth grade education. They were able to achieve the American Dream to see their daughter become a United States Congresswoman.

What are we doing instead of embracing that identity? We are punishing sanctuary cities that embrace our immigrant neighbors. We are dismantling asylums and humanitarian paroles. We are dehumanizing our immigrant neighbors. We are banning all refugees, even those who waited patiently for years, who followed the law, had flights booked, already cleared, and were denied entry.

We are already laying the groundwork. He is already doing it for the Muslim ban, many of our neighbors, myself, my family, all of us. Even though it is not directly targeted toward us, attacking a whole faith is un-American. Sending ICE to schools, hospitals, and churches is hateful and divisive.

He is even trying to override the 14th Amendment of the Constitution to end birthright citizenship. It is clear from my residents and folks around the country there is absolutely no doubt if you are born in the United States, you are a U.S. citizen. The President does not have the authority to change that, period.

We must fight back to prevent these policies rooted in racism and white nationalism. That means opposing plans for mass deportation. Our families must protect each other. It has nothing to do with public safety. They want us distracted so they can help their billionaire friends become richer.

That means opposing his plans for mass deportation. It means showing up to defend our friends, coworkers, and neighbors when they raid our communities.

It means my colleagues must stop voting to pass racist and authoritarian legislation that expands deportations and paints our immigrant neighbors as violent criminals.

Trump's executive orders call immigrants coming to our country seeking a better life an ``invasion.'' The only invasion we face is ICE coming into our communities to sow chaos, racially profile our neighbors, and tear our families apart.

This has nothing to do with public safety, it is about stoking fear and hate because they want to distract us from what is really happening.

Making the wealthy class richer.

Corporations are already celebrating.

Meant to keep us silent as this administration goes after every single marginalized group in our country.

Now is the time to resist this fearmongering, to stand with our immigrant neighbors and make it clear that our communities are stronger than those that hate us.