Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am from Motown, where our music has changed the world in so many incredible ways forever.

But artists in my district and across our country are struggling to make ends meet in an industry where the money just keeps going to executives and shareholders.

It would take more than 800,000 streams per month to make the equivalent of $15 an hour, and the vast majority of our artists are on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, and they never, ever get to 800,000 streams in a year.

This is a big deal. Streaming now represents 84 percent of the recorded music industry's revenue in the United States, but most of the artists who bring joy to our lives and culture aren't seeing any of it.

The Living Wage for Musicians Act, which I introduced with Representative Bowman, would change that by creating a new fund that aims to pay artists at least one penny per stream.

The bill would completely reform the music industry, supporting a much more diverse set of artists, enabling more recording and touring, and sending a ripple effect throughout local economies by supporting professionals throughout the music industry.

I truly encourage my colleagues to learn more about this legislation, cosponsor the bill, and help change artists' lives forever.

Remembering Chef Maxcel Hardy

Mr. Speaker, our community is deeply saddened by the loss of Chef Max Hardy, a Detroit native who was a trailblazer in his advocacy to end hunger.

Chef Max was the owner of Rosedale Park neighborhood restaurants River Bistro, COOP Caribbean Fusion inside the Detroit Shipping Company, and Jed's Detroit on Seven Mile Road.

He founded the One Chef Can 86 Hunger Foundation, a nonprofit organization that fights against hunger and raises awareness about food insecurity.

The New York Times named Hardy one of 16 Black Chefs Changing Food in America in 2021.

Chef Max also cowrote ``The Marley Coffee Cookbook'' with Rohan Marley, Bob Marley's son, and was featured on the Food Network.

He was a champion of aspiring young people in Detroit, teaching them the fundamentals of conscious cooking.

On behalf of the 12th Congressional District, we send our love and condolences to Chef Max's two daughters and his family. He truly will be missed.

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the remarkable work of the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, as they recently celebrated their 115th anniversary of service to our residents.

For over a century, Detroit Rescue Mission has been a beacon of hope, providing, food, shelter, and services to those in our community that are most vulnerable.

Detroit Rescue Mission was founded by David Stucky on February 14, 1909.

The Mission began as a soup kitchen with a mission to find permanent solutions for our most vulnerable residents in the city of Detroit.

The Detroit Rescue Mission has worked tirelessly to rebuild hundreds of thousands of lives destroyed by addiction, homelessness, and poverty.

I am so grateful for the work of the Detroit Rescue Mission for their incredible leadership in our community, and I am looking forward to witnessing all they will continue to accomplish in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, over 3.5 million young adults and roughly 700,000 young people experience homelessness in our country. We can't keep doing the same thing over and over again. With so many of our youth experiencing homelessness, we worked on a bill together called the Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act.

This bill would launch a pilot program providing direct cash assistance to those experiencing homelessness in the amount of $1,400, or adjusted fair market rent, for 36 months, and then study the effects of the program on housing and health outcomes.

This week, we received an email from someone that said: When I was 17, I was convinced to leave home and family to go live in Texas. I had $400 in my bank account and a car that broke down every month. This would have helped me tremendously.

I think, again, it is important as we come together to try to end the homelessness crisis in our country that we listen to the people being directly impacted.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this pilot program while respecting the dignity of unhoused young people by cosponsoring the bill.

Mr. Speaker, on February 14, during Roll Call No. 44, I recorded my vote as Present. The reason for my vote is as follows:

All acts of sexual violence are horrific. We should all be fighting to end it here at home and all over the world.

So, while this resolution rightly denounces any sexual committed by Hamas, I am disturbed that it completely ignores and erases any sexual abuse and violence committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians, especially children.

War crimes cannot justify more war crimes. We must stand up for everyone's safety and human rights, no matter their faith or ethnicity.

There are numerous, well-documented reports of sexual violence, including rape, committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians in their custody. Children detained and stripped to their underwear in public, for the world to see.

The UN and human rights groups have raised alarms for years--but Congress has never cared.

We all have a responsibility to denounce sexual violence in all forms, regardless of who is responsible. This resolution falls well short of that responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, outreach was made to the sponsor of H. Res. 966 on several occasions to support the inclusion of Palestinians who had been victims of sexual violence into the Resolution. However, the sponsor denied adding in any language that supports the well-documented fact that Palestinians have faced many atrocities similar to those described in the Resolution. Sexual violence is abhorrent and must be fully investigated and prosecuted. The intentional omission of Palestinian lived experiences in this resolution is dehumanizing and a disservice to survivors everywhere.

Madam Speaker, I take this moment to recognize Captain Jeremy Watkins for his 22 years of extraordinary service with the Dearborn Fire Department in Michigan's 12th District Strong.

Captain Watkins started as a firefighter with the Dearborn Fire Department in 2002. He steadily rose through the ranks, serving as engineer, lieutenant, and was promoted to captain in 2024.

Over the years, Captain Watkins has been recognized for his commitment and outstanding public service, achieving five Meritorious Company Commendations, as well as the Fire Chief's Unit Award, the Fire Chief's Life Saving Award, and the John D. Dingell Medal of Freedom Memorial Commendation.

He has also been recognized multiple times, Madam Speaker, for his safe driving record and for his work at the vaccination center.

Captain Watkins has devoted countless hours and energy to serving the people and the families of the city of Dearborn.

Please join me in recognizing his 22 years of commitment to protecting our communities across Michigan's 12th District as we wish him strength in his fight against brain cancer.

Ending Profit from War

Madam Speaker, ending utility shutoffs, boldly tackling the climate crisis, fully funding Social Security, universal school meals for every child that is hungry in our country, guaranteeing healthcare and clean water is a human right.

Year after year, many colleagues tell me that there is no money for these lifesaving programs, and then they turn around and vote for another record-breaking $886.3 billion in military budget and massive weapons giveaways for foreign governments, funneling billions of our tax dollars to the very same defense contractors that many of them are invested in and taking campaign donations from.

We should not be voting to send our U.S. dollars to any government that is violating human rights, period. It is disturbing that many of my colleagues in this Chamber are actively profiting financially when they vote to pass more funding for weapons and wars. Literally every bomb dropped makes them money.

The American people deserve Representatives who vote in the best interests of our families. We are all elected to serve the public, not to serve stock portfolios.

I introduced the Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act to put an end to this corruption and ban Members of Congress from owning war and defense stocks. The American people deserve better. We are sick of politicians profiting from death and war.

Demanding Justice for Syrians

Madam Speaker, over 600,000 have been killed. It has been over a decade since the start of the

Syrian civil war, and victims of numerous horrific crimes committed during the conflict are still waiting for justice.

In recent months, regional powers and dictators have sought to sweep the war criminal, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's heinous, horrific crimes under the rug and welcome him back into the international arena. Shame.

Assad's regime committed some of the worst atrocities of the 21st century, including using chemical weapons literally on his own people and widespread use of horrific torture on his own people.

I introduced the Justice for Syrians resolution, and I urge my colleagues to bring it to the floor for a vote. This bill directs the U.S. through the United Nations to finally hold war criminal Assad accountable for crimes against humanity at an ad hoc international court of law.

This is critical. Please join me in demanding justice for our Syrian people and our families that are directly impacted that live here in the United States and push to hold war criminals like Assad accountable for their crimes against humanity.

Mr. Speaker, all acts of sexual violence are horrific. We should all be fighting to end it here at home and all around the world.

So, while the resolution on the floor today rightfully denounces any sexual violence by Hamas, I am disturbed that it completely ignores and erases any sexual violence and abuse committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians, especially children.

War crimes cannot justify more war crimes. We must stand up for everyone's safety and human rights, no matter their faith, no matter their ethnicity.

There are numerous, well-documented reports of sexual violence, including rape, committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians in their custody; children detained and stripped to their underwear in public for the world to see.

Mr. Speaker, I call your attention to a Haaretz article titled: ``Cigarette Burns, Beatings, Attempted Sexual Assault: Settlers and Soldiers Abuse Palestinians,'' which can be found at: https:// www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-10-21/ty-article-magazine/.premium/ beatings-burns-attempted-sexual-assault-settlers-and-soldiers-abused- palestinians/0000018b-530f-d1d7-ab8b-7f5fca1d0000.

The U.N. and human rights groups have raised alarms for years, but Congress did nothing. They never cared.

We all have a responsibility to denounce sexual violence in all forms, regardless of who is responsible. This resolution falls well short of that responsibility, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I want everyone to know and to be very clear that every month in the 12th Congressional District is Black History Month.

I was born and raised in the most beautiful, Blackest city in the country: the city of Detroit. Countless Black leaders, our neighbors, have inspired us all to seek change in the face of segregation, Jim Crow, economic injustices, and dehumanizing racism.

We bore witness in our city to Dr. King's first Walk to Freedom and the transformative work of so many of our Black trailblazers, like Mother Rosa Parks, James Boggs, Reverend Franklin, and so many others.

It was on our very streets that the fight for Black liberation and civil rights bent the arc of the moral universe in our Nation. From the iconic Motown sound to powerful activism, our community's Black history has a remarkable legacy.

The 12th District acknowledges that Black history and Black lives matter every single day of the year.

Please know that you will also have a fighter in me in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, here we go again, sending $17.6 billion of U.S. tax dollars with no conditions attached to Netanyahu's extremist government to drop more bombs on innocent Palestinians.

The Israeli Government has already killed 27,000 people, 11,500 of whom were children.

I am tired of my colleagues coming to me, whispering: I don't really like Netanyahu. Well, then, why are we sending him billions of dollars with no conditions?

He literally is telling us over and over again what his intention is.

I am tired of my colleagues coming to me and whispering to me: Rashida, I support a two-state solution. Great. Then send money that has conditions for a two-state solution because Netanyahu has over and over again told us he never wants to see a Palestinian state.

I am tired. I oppose Netanyahu's war crimes and want him gone, too, but many of my colleagues that continue to tell me that do not want a condition to aid. They will just give it to a genocidal maniac.

My message to my colleagues is simple: If you don't support Netanyahu, if you are disgusted by the countless videos of lifeless children pulled out of the rubble, if you actually believe in upholding human rights and international law, vote ``no'' on a blank check to Netanyahu's genocide.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to celebrate the life and legacy of Joseph Anthony Fiddler, better known as ``Amp,'' as we mourn his passing.

Amp Fiddler was born May 16, 1958 in Detroit, Michigan. His family instilled in him a deep appreciation for music. He grew up surrounded by the sounds of Detroit's Motown, rock, jazz, and funk. As a child, Mr. Fiddler studied piano and eventually keyboard. He found his first professional work as a musician with Enchantment, a Detroit-based soul act. He was eventually discovered by the legendary George Clinton and went on to perform regularly with Parliament-Funkadelic between 1985 and 1996. It was during this time that Fiddler honed his skills on the keyboard and synthesizers, contributing significantly to the band's distinctive sound.

Beyond his work with P-Funk, Fiddler collaborated with notable artists such as Prince, Seal, and Maxwell. His studio, Camp Amp, became a hub for aspiring musicians. He mentored J Dilla, another notable Detroit musician, putting him on the path to developing his signature style. Fiddler enjoyed a successful solo career, marked by his blending of classic funk with contemporary sound, in addition to his numerous collaborations. Despite his stellar career, Fiddler always remained humble and dedicated to his craft and community.

Please join me in recognizing the musical contributions of Amp Fiddler, a true guiding force for Detroit's musical culture, as we mourn his loss.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the life and legacy of Joseph ``Amp'' Fiddler as we mourn his passing.

Amp Fiddler was born in Detroit and grew up surrounded by the sounds of Motown, rock, jazz, funk, and electronic music.

His big break came when he joined the legendary George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic. It was during this time that Amp honed his skills on the keyboard and synthesizers, contributing significantly to the band's distinctive sound.

Fiddler collaborated with many notable artists, like Prince and is credited with helping launch the pioneering hip-hop sounds of our own Detroit's legendary J Dilla.

He enjoyed a long and successful solo career, marked by his distinctive blend of funk and contemporary sounds. Fiddler always remained humble and dedicated to his craft and our community.

Please join me in recognizing Amp Fiddler, a true guiding force for Detroit's musical culture as we mourn his loss.

Mr. Speaker, Delta workers deserve the right to organize without intimidation from Delta executives. We know that when workers come together in solidarity, they create a strong, collective voice for safer work environments.

We must empower all the workers to speak out against injustice in their workplace, not silence them.

Recently, the Labor Caucus met with Delta flight attendants that are organizing with Delta AFA as well as Delta workers from Teamsters, machinists unions, to hear about their unionizing efforts.

I heard many of their stories, Mr. Speaker, about being targeted for union organizing efforts after decades of loyalty to the company.

This is unacceptable, and frankly, shameful. It is clear that Delta executives are engaging in bullying, union busting, retaliation, and even suspension of their employees for their union campaigns.

As a proud daughter of the UAW, I know the power of a union, and I will continue to fight for every worker to have the right to organize unions and collectively bargain for better working conditions and higher and fair pay without fear of being targeted or fired.

Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to stand with the workers and hold Delta executives accountable for their antiunion tactics.

Honoring the Life of Faye Awada

Mr. Speaker, I knew the extraordinary woman named Faye Awada. She was a remarkable woman who left a legacy that has deeply impacted the community.

Faye Awada's work was rooted in compassion and resilience, and she dedicated her life to helping others. Born in Lebanon, Faye was the eldest of 13. She immigrated to the United States in 1960.

Her early struggles as a young mother fueled her determination to uplift the needs of our community. She devoted her life and assisted over 500,000 families that we know of with translation and other services.

Faye was a trailblazer, emerging as one of Michigan's first female entrepreneurs. Her impact earned her the community spotlight award for unwavering dedication.

Mr. Speaker, let us please honor her legacy and achievements as we continue the work that she began. I am sending love and strength to Faye Awada's family.

``May she rest in power,'' ``Allah Yerhama.''

Violation of the Leahy Laws and Conventional Arms Transfer Policy

Mr. Speaker, on January 5, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby revealed that the Biden administration hasn't bothered to conduct a formal review of the Israeli Government's compliance with international law since the genocide in Gaza began.

Then on January 18, we learned that the State Department allegedly uses special mechanisms to review and shield the Government of Israel from consequences under U.S. law when reviewing violations of human rights committed by the government.

The level of support for Netanyahu's war crimes by the Biden administration and the majority of this body is beyond belief, especially when the majority of the American people want the war crimes to end.

I am proud to have led a letter with colleagues in requesting that the President and the nonpartisan group called the Government Accountability Office take the long overdue step of reviewing whether the U.S. security aid to Israel is violating Leahy laws and the President's own conventional arms transfer policy.

We should be consistent, but also relentless in assuring that the American weapons are not used to commit war crimes anywhere in the world. That is the bare minimum.

President Biden and the U.S. Government have the power to make sure that we are holding every government accountable that we are sending weapons to. We must facilitate a lasting cease-fire now to ensure the safety of everyone that lives there.

Mr. Speaker, DTE Energy, an investor-owned utility monopoly in southeast Michigan, charges some of the highest rates in our Nation but provides some of the most unreliable service. They also carry out hundreds of thousands of cruel utility shutoffs per year.

Over 100,000 DTE customers in southeast Michigan were forced to go days without power and heat during extreme cold and hot weather. This is because, instead of investing in reliability, DTE invests in profits and pays their shareholders and executives first. DTE's own CEO makes $10 million a year while families in southeast Michigan are going without power, again, during some of the coldest days this past week.

Investor-owned utilities like DTE have failed to invest in the infrastructure upgrades to the grid that are necessary to prevent these outages. Instead, they are choosing to maximize profits for their shareholders while spending millions on campaign contributions to avoid real accountability in Lansing.

My residents are sick and tired of wealthy corporate executives lining their pockets while our neighbors are exploited and price gouged. That is why I am proud to have introduced a resolution with Congresswoman Cori Bush and Congressman Jamaal Bowman. It is a resolution recognizing the human right to utilities.

It is important that we understand that access to utilities is not a privilege. It is a fundamental human right. In the richest country on Earth, every single family should not go without electricity, heat, and water.

We need utilities that serve the people, not shareholders. We need to take the profit motive out of the services we all need to live and thrive.

Yemen Strikes

Mr. Speaker, I stand in solidarity with the billions of people all around the world who are demanding a cease-fire now.

The majority of Americans support de-escalation and a lasting cease- fire, yet the President has threatened to escalate this into a regional war instead

of doing anything to stop Netanyahu's genocidal bombing campaign.

Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank are being murdered by American weapons funded by our tax dollars. Lebanese national civilians are being killed, and now the Yemeni people are under threat.

Prior to the Israeli Government's assault on Gaza, Yemen was facing the worst humanitarian crisis on Earth, with much of the population living on the brink of famine.

President Biden was legally required to seek authorization from Congress prior to launching these strikes. He did not do so and, as a result, has violated the United States Constitution. This is completely unacceptable.

Many of my colleagues have correctly called out the Biden administration for bypassing Congress. The American people do not want to be dragged into yet another endless war in the Middle East.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Founders' Day

Mr. Speaker, today I rise with immense pride and joy in recognizing and celebrating the Founders' Day of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

This marks a time of reflection, appreciation, and unity for a sisterhood committed to the service of others.

Zeta Phi Beta was founded on the principles of scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood. This sisterhood has fostered academic excellence and empowerment in our communities. From educational initiatives to advocating for social justice, Zeta Phi Beta has been a force for good.

We continue to honor the vision of our founders: Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, and Viola Tyler Goings.

Happy Founders' Day to my sorors of Zeta Phi Beta. I am so proud to be a part of the sisterhood. To all of the January D9 family, happy Founders' Day. May their commitment to excellence and service continue to inspire us all.

Madam Speaker, if the technology existed, I really and truly believe the GOP would put tethers on the ovaries of women around our country as a result of this type of overreach and control.

This bill literally would target and bully our daughters on college campuses.

If this bill claims to support our daughters, then let's talk about programs that truly support our daughters. Lifesaving programs that help women after a baby has been born are getting cut left and right. The legislation creates no new rights and no protections under Title IX, no protections from discrimination or information on how to file a Federal civil rights claim.

Literally, the only requirement is that our daughters on college campuses be targeted and shamed. That is exactly what it is.

This is all while the Republican majority does nothing--nothing--to stop the unbelievable crisis we have with infant mortality, Black maternal health, and so much more. We have to beg to fund WIC in this Chamber. WIC specifically supports pregnant women.

Women are already being forced to work harder just to make ends meet and put food on the table for their families. Yet again, though, we are going to target them. We are going to sit there and pretend that this is to help them.

I represent, Madam Speaker, some communities struggling the most. So many of those struggling are mothers. One came to my office in tears because the early childhood program in her neighborhood was cut. She said that was the place where her children could get fed twice a day.

This is what we have become. We want to bully and shame women in our country. I am proud to support the women in our country, and I am going to be so proud to be able to vote ``no'' on this extreme, antiwomen legislation.

Let's not gaslight the American people. We know exactly what the GOP is trying to do. They are trying to control us, and it is not going to happen.

Mr. Speaker, there is no denying that our immigration system is broken and so deteriorated. The last time that Congress passed any immigration reform, real reform, was in 1996. That was 28 years ago.

It is not just Democrats or Republicans to blame. Frankly, both parties have completely failed to find the courage to really, truly dig deep and fix our broken immigration system. Prison first, humanity later doesn't work. We have a responsibility to act.

I have to tell you, as a former immigration attorney, I remember U.S. citizens waiting 10 years or more just to bring their children over, and it is even longer for those in Mexico. Siblings wait 12, 15, even 20 years to unite with their family members. The system is completely broken and does not work for our country.

Our immigrant neighbors deserve to live with human dignity, stability, and equal recognition as valued members of communities.

Right now, we have so many U.S. citizens who cannot have their immigrant spouses adjust their status here in the United States. Look it up.

It is so important to understand that we need to protect our immigration process by actually making sure it meets the needs of our country. For far too long, millions of our immigrant neighbors have waited in limbo while they face numerous challenges and obstacles to obtain legal status and a pathway to citizenship.

Please remember that migrants and asylum seekers come to our country to escape violence and seek a better life for their families. They should not be vilified, locked in cages, or dehumanized.

I ask all of us to please stop with the fearmongering. These policies are rooted in racism, xenophobia, and white nationalism. We must change our course.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is an important day to Michigan's 12th District Strong. It is a reminder of the legacy of a man who dedicated his last breath to the pursuit of equality and justice for all.

I am honored, Mr. Speaker, to represent the most beautiful, Blackest city in the country, the city of Detroit, where we birth movements, where every corner reminds us of the civil rights movement, of the labor movement.

Dr. King knew the struggles to end racism, poverty, and war were all interconnected, as well, and 2 weeks before he was assassinated, Dr. King speaking to sanitation workers on strike said: ``All labor has dignity . . . You are reminding the Nation that it is a crime for people to live in this rich nation and receive starvation wages.''

As we strive to make Dr. King's dream a reality, may we continue to fight for justice for all.

South Africa's Genocide

Mr. Speaker, today South Africa will present its case against the Israeli Government at the International Court of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the link for the case: https:// d12t4t5x3vyizu.cloudfront.net/tlaib.house.gov/uploads/2024/01/192- 20231228-app-01-00-en.pdf

It is incredibly powerful to witness people who defeated apartheid in their own country hold the Israeli apartheid regime accountable for its crime of genocide in Gaza.

Today, I am thinking of Nelson Mandela's powerful words: ``We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.''

In the past 3 months, Israeli forces have killed over 23,350 Palestinians, including more than 9,600 children. They have injured more than 59,400 Palestinians. More than 8,000 Palestinians are still missing under the rubble.

This week, Secretary of State Blinken called the case meritless. Let me read directly from the case file starting on page 59: ``Expressions of Genocidal Intent Against the Palestinian People by Israeli State Officials and Others'' so you can hear directly from the Israeli officials in their own words, not mine.

President Herzog said: ``It's an entire nation out there that is responsible. It's not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware not involved. It is absolutely not true. . . . and we will fight until we break their backbone.''

He is one of the many Israeli officials to have handwritten messages on the bombs to be dropped on the children of Gaza.

Netanyahu said in his own words: ``A struggle between the children of light and the children of darkness, between humanity and the law of the jungle.'' And he continues to say: ``This is a battle not only of Israel against these barbarians, it's a battle of civilization against barbarism.''

Israel's Minister of Defense said: ``imposing a complete siege on Gaza. No electricity, no food, no water, no fuel. Everything is closed. We are fighting human animals . . .'' Again, that is a direct quote from the Minister of Defense.

He continues on to say: ``Gaza won't return to what it was before. We will eliminate everything.''

Israeli Minister for National Security--again, an official within the Israeli Government--speaking of those living in Gaza said: `` . . . they're all terrorists, and they should also be destroyed.''

Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure said: ``All the civilian population in Gaza is ordered to leave immediately. . . . They will not receive a drop of water or a single battery until they leave the world.''

Israeli Minister of Heritage said: ``The north of the Gaza Strip, more beautiful than ever. Everything is blown up and flattened, simply a pleasure for the eyes . . . we will hand over lots to all those who fought for Gaza over the years.''

I am not done.

The Israeli Minister of Agriculture said: ``[w]e are now actually rolling out the Gaza Nakba.''

Deputy Speaker of the Knesset said: `` . . . we all have one common goal--erasing the Gaza Strip from the face of the Earth. Those who are unable will be replaced.''

Israeli Army Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories speaking of the Palestinians living in Gaza said: ``Human animals are dealt with accordingly.''

The Israeli Army Reservist said: ``. . .don't leave anyone behind. Erase the memory of them. Erase them, their families, mothers and children. These animals can no longer live. . . .Let them drop bombs on them and erase them.''

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the entire South African genocide case

against Israel in the International Court of Justice: https:// d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2024/01/192-20231228-app-01-00- en.pdf

Mr. Speaker, there is simply time to save lives, to stop the Israeli Government from carrying out the genocide in Gaza. This body and the Biden administration are complicit in this genocide. Congress must stop funding the genocide of the Palestinian people with our American tax dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Robert H. Bernard for his outstanding service and leadership as Board Chair for Operation Refuge, a grassroots organization based in Western Wayne County.

Operation Refuge provides essential services like emergency food assistance and youth programming to some of the most underserved populations in Wayne County and whose mission is to serve the community with compassion, empathy, and integrity. As Board Chair, Dr. Bernard leads with this mission as his top priority. He has worked tirelessly to foster community development and promote career-driven and educational opportunities for the youth. Dr. Bernard has gone above and beyond to ensure that youth programs, such as Camp Inspire, are inviting and fulfilling and that youth scholarship funding is plentiful and available. Overall, Dr. Bernard's leadership

and service at Operation Refuge has made a long-lasting, positive impact on the community. His care for the youth and people of this community is evident and overflowing.

Please join me in acknowledging Dr. Robert H. Bernard for his passionate leadership and dedicated service to Operation Refuge and the community.