Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as some of my colleagues continue to try to attempt to bully and silence me, I will remind all of them that I grew up in Detroit. The more you try to shut us up, the louder we get.

Mr. Speaker, as we speak right now, the Israeli Government is moving to exterminate Palestinians. The U.S.-backed and funded genocide in Gaza is reaching new levels of horror every single day that we do not take action to stop it.

There is no more denying it, Mr. Speaker. The International Association of Genocide Scholars, hundreds of the world's leading experts on genocide, has determined that the Israeli Government is committing genocide.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a link to the International Association of Genocide Scholars Resolution on Gaza. https:// genocidescholars.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/IAGS-Resolution-on- Gaza-FINAL.pdf.

Mr. Speaker, this week, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry has concluded that the Government of Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

It calls on all countries to take immediate concrete actions to prevent and punish genocide, to stop sending weapons to the Israeli Government, and to bring individuals forward, again, to hold them accountable and to seek justice for the genocide.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a link to the U.N.'s Independent International Commission of Inquiry report on the crime of genocide in Gaza if my colleagues would like to read it. https://www.ohchr.org/ sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/ session60/advance-version/a-hrc-60-crp-3.pdf.

Mr. Speaker, these new determinations only confirm what Palestinians, eyewitnesses, journalists, and researchers have been saying for nearly 2 years: This is a genocide.

Journalists have been murdered in unprecedented numbers in human history, so there is no one left to show the world what is being done. There is forced starvation, Mr. Speaker, and destruction of entire cities. They are luring starving and desperate people to fake food distribution sites in order to kill them. They call them the killing fields. Multiple generations of families, entire blood lines, are wiped out. Newborns are left decomposing in the NICU as hospitals, doctors, and ambulances are systematically targeted and destroyed.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a link to the official report of the names and ages of Palestinians confirmed and killed in Gaza. https://data.techforpalestine.org/list/.

Mr. Speaker, look at this. I want the American people to see this. The first 21 pages are all infants who did not live long enough to see their first birthday.

There have been over 60,000 human lives confirmed dead so far. Children's smiles are extinguished every single day by bombs that say ``Made in the United States of America.''

Experts say, and we all know this, that the death toll is likely tens of thousands higher with countless bodies still trapped under the rubble.

This must end.

As we speak, the Israeli military is moving to wipe what remains of Gaza city off the map. Gaza is the largest city in Palestine, a vibrant city of 1 million people that has existed for thousands of years, and it is being erased before our eyes.

Mr. Speaker, this is not only the Israeli Government's genocide. This is our government's genocide. Our government provides the bombs, the diplomatic cover, and the complete and total impunity to kill, bulldoze, and exterminate.

Some of my colleagues cruelly cheer these war crimes on, while others quietly express their concerns while voting to send more bombs anyway, but the American people know the truth about this genocide. They know what their own eyes are seeing, and they are rising up to say: No more. No more bombs, no more weapons, no more genocide.

This will not stop until we act in this body. It is not too late to save lives. For humanity's sake, we must act now.

Welcoming Detroit to CBC Week

Mr. Speaker, I take a moment to welcome all of my Black neighbors throughout the 12th Congressional District to the people's House for Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Legislative Conference Week.

Our city, the city of Detroit, the most beautiful, Blackest city, where I was born and raised, has strong roots with the Congressional Black Caucus. For me, it is no coincidence that the very first chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Charles Diggs, was born and raised also in Detroit, carrying forward our city's legacy of resilience and movements and so much, again, fights against oppression here and across the world.

It was also another son of Detroit, my predecessor and founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman John Conyers, who stood with Dr. King and later became the driving force behind making Dr. King's birthday a national holiday.

I am so incredibly proud to welcome all of my neighbors, residents, and elected officials to the Nation's Capital. Welcome to Congressional Black Caucus Week.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District celebrates T. Ramsey & Associates on their 10-year anniversary. We thank them for their hard work in providing social impact consulting services to nonprofits, small businesses, and governmental entities across our region.

From 2015 to 2025, T. Ramsey & Associates has worked individually with each client to support and address their needs. From training services to speaking to groups on engaging topics, to consulting in mentorship, T. Ramsey & Associates has provided critical technical assistance to our communities. T. Ramsey & Associates has worked diligently to provide necessary services to grow non-profits and businesses. and we know that many have flourished as a result of their services. Our district is proud to recognize such a hardworking organization in our community for creating essential] programming for our neighbors and community, organizational, and business stakeholders.

The 12th Congressional District congratulates T. Ramsey & Associates on all of their hard work and success, and hopes for many more years of celebration to come in community building.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District celebrates Reverend Dr. Perrico Robinson, Sr., as the newly appointed Pastor to the Womack Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church of Inkster, Michigan.

Reverend Robinson is a passionate figure in the ministry and began preaching at the age of 14 in his home state of Tennessee. He began his education at Freed-Hardeman University, where he received a bachelor's degree in biblical studies. He also holds a Master of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling from Rawlings School of Divinity and a Doctorate from Andersonville Theological Seminary.

With over two decades of ministerial experience, Reverend Robinson has held several leadership roles in churches across our country, including Louisiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Dr. Robinson is known for delivering powerful sermons. His favorite biblical passage is Ephesians 3:20, which states, ``Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.''

The 12th Congressional District is pleased to welcome Reverend Robinson and look forward to his contributions to our community. We wish him all the best in his leadership and ministry and look forward to the significant impact he will have on the C.M.E. Church and our district.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the extraordinary life and legacy of Reverend Thomas Delbert Staton, a remarkable man whose achievements in ministry, academics, community service, and athletic career set an example for us all.

Thomas was born on May 21, 1957, as the fourth son of Reverend Chester Staton and Odesa Staton. He excelled in school, earning an athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan. After working for over two decades with DTE, he began a successful consulting career for Detroit's big-three automotive companies. Thomas used this wealth of experience and wisdom to serve as a pillar of his community, working tirelessly as a minister, motivational speaker, basketball coach, and local township treasurer. As a featured speaker of the Detroit Pistons, his words energized tens of thousands of children.

We extend our sincerest condolences to his lifelong partner, Wanda, and son, Thomas. Our collective memory of his dedication to excellence, faith, and service will live on through his beautiful family and the countless people who were touched by his striking words and actions.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan honors Fire Captain Mark Andrew, a second-generation firefighter, for the incredible tenacity and courage he displayed throughout his nearly three-decade career serving the Dearborn community.

Captain Andrew began his service on April 29, 1997. Over the course of 28 years, he earned five promotions, advancing from Firefighter 1 to Fire Captain by 2015. He earned 40 awards in recognition of his commitment to consistently exceptional work, scholarship, community service, fire education, and the safety of all people. The community of Dearborn often commended his sincere care and empathy toward the countless people he saved, his coworkers, and every person he served.

The 12th Congressional District of Michigan extends our deepest gratitude to Fire Captain Mark Andrew. Our neighbors are safer and

stronger thanks to his work, and we wish him health and happiness throughout his well-earned retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan celebrates a century of service for the Redford Township District Library. While the original Redford Township District Library building first opened its doors in the 1960's, their mission of inspiring ideas, enriching lives, and creating community began much earlier. The library started its service using bookmobiles in the 1920's before receiving generous workplace expansions, book donations, funding, and material support over numerous decades. The services offered by the library today are a testament to the power of community and charity.

As we celebrate the spirit of generosity that has enabled the Redford Township District Library to grow and vitalize our community, we look ahead with confidence that it will continue to serve as a beacon of learning, connection, and opportunity. We honor and celebrate this momentous occasion and stand in solidarity to ensure that our learning institutions thrive and continue to provide a safe space for learning for all communities.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan honors the illustrious career of Coach Perry Watson.

Many know him as Coach Watson, but he was a high school counselor to hundreds of us in southwest Detroit when he was assigned at Southwestern High School. Perry Watson is a lifelong Detroiter and known for his coaching career. However, if not for him, I would never have gone to college. Counselor Perry Watson was stationed on the lower floor at Southwestern High School, and you would always find him standing in the doorway catching his students as they passed. I was one of them. He kept on me for not applying to college. Even after I explained that my family couldn't afford it, he insisted. He said, ``Everything will turn out okay.'' He was right.

He later served as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan, and then the head coach of the University of Detroit Mercy Titans. Over 15 seasons, Coach Perry Watson compiled a 261-198 record, the second- most wins of any Titans coach in history. This exceptional record earned him a well-deserved place in the UDM Hall of Fame. It wasn't a surprise that Coach Watson ensured his students displayed academic excellence. Under his supervision, 96 percent of his players graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy.

Students from across the city of Detroit were brought together under the instruction of Coach Perry Watson. Their distinction in academics and athletics is a testament to his influence and mentorship.

We thank Perry Watson for his profound contributions and celebrate the lasting legacy he leaves in both sports and education.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan honors Mr. Vincent and Elizabeth Freeman for the generosity, compassion and dedication they have displayed in creating the Elmwood Blessing Box.

In 2023, the Freemans installed a small food pantry box in front of their home, which allowed neighbors to take food when they were in need at zero cost. Over time, they realized that this demand was greater than initially expected. The Freemans decided to expand the blessing box to include enough food to fill a collection of cabinets and refrigerators, while continuing to expand as the need grew greater. Today, we are extremely excited to celebrate the benevolence, hard work and commitment the Freemans have shown and continue to show as they work to prevent food insecurity throughout Westland, Michigan and beyond.

The 12th Congressional District of Michigan extends our deepest gratitude to the Freemans and hopes their work inspires others. Our community will be forever indebted to them, and we wish them success, health and happiness on the opening of the Elmwood Blessings Box.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District of Michigan honors the life of Peter Mays, a dedicated and beloved member of the Trinity Health family for over 20 years. Peter served in the Information Technology department, where he took pride in his work and was known for his reliability, generosity, and willingness to help others. He continued working as long as his health allowed, retiring just one week before his passing. When not working, you could find Peter riding his bike around the city of Detroit.

During a Trinity Health Town Hall attended by more than 600 employees, colleagues paid tribute to Peter in a special Colleague Remembrance presentation. His coworkers, many of whom became close friends, stood by him and his family through challenging years, offering hospital visits, home support, and heartfelt gestures of kindness.

Peter's service, friendship, and example will be deeply missed, but his impact will continue to inspire those who knew and loved him. The 12th Congressional District of Michigan honors the life of Peter Mays and extends heartfelt condolences to all his loved ones and friends.

Mr. Speaker, today, the 12th Congressional District honors the extraordinary life and legacy of Ignacio ``Ziggy'' Gonzalez, a beloved son of southwest Detroit. A proud veteran and dedicated educator, Ziggy lived a long and impactful life of 94 years, which stretched far beyond the baseball diamond and hockey rink.

Born in 1930, Ziggy proudly served in the United States Air Force before returning home to raise a family and dedicate his life to teaching and coaching. As a beloved educator at Western High School, ``Mr. G'' inspired countless students with his humor, wisdom, and unshakable belief in their potential.

Ziggy was also the heart and soul of Clark Park, where he got the name ``Mr. Clark Park'' and built hockey and baseball programs that gave generations of young people a place to play, learn, and belong. To many, he will forever be ``Mr. Clark Park.'' His love of family, sports, community, and music, especially jazz, reflected the very best of Detroit.

We extend our love to his wife, siblings, children, grandchildren, and friends as we celebrate his life, and we are committed to carrying forward his spirit of service, joy, and justice.

Mr. Speaker, working people are sick and tired of corporate greed. It is time to say enough is enough.

Last year, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol made almost $96 million. The average Starbucks worker made less than $15,000 a year. They would have to work more than 6,000 years to match Starbucks' CEO pay.

While Starbucks is among the worst, it is not the only one in the United States. Among the 100 S&P 500 companies with the lowest worker pay, the

average CEO makes 632 times more than their workers.

This is absurd, and it is immoral. It is corporate greed. It leads to income inequality in our country and drives wage stagnation. It doesn't have to be like this.

This is why I am introducing the Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act. While these CEOs float around on their yachts, millions of Americans, our residents, are drowning in credit card debt and struggling to keep their heads above water.

This level of inequality is a threat to our democracy, and this kind of economic power concentrated in a few hands truly hurts our families.

CEOs in the 1970s made roughly 25 times the average pay of their workers. Today, it is 290 times more. I want folks to think about that because these are workers who depend on us, the Federal Government, to subsidize these poverty wages. They are on Medicaid and getting food assistance because their CEOs are focused on profit and their own pay instead of taking care of their workers.

This bill would apply higher corporate tax rates to companies that pay their CEOs higher amounts of compensation compared to their workers. It is triggered if it is 50-1. That is the trigger, 50-1, that a company will pay more in corporate tax if that is the case. The greater the ratio, the larger the increase in the tax rate.

This will not only incentivize more reasonable CEO pay packages, but it would also compel companies to increase their workers' pay and take care of their workforce.

This level of inequality we face is a threat, again, to our families' economic stability and livelihood. In this Chamber we constantly have to subsidize. We constantly have to take care of the workers when their CEOs and the companies don't do that.

I urge my colleagues to please support the Tax Excessive CEO Pay Act.

War Profiteering

Mr. Speaker, Republicans already voted to give $5 trillion tax breaks to the richest Americans, paid for by ripping food from children's mouths and kicking 17 million people off of their healthcare.

Trump's big betrayal bill--and that is what I call it because it is a betrayal to the American people--also included $150 billion for the Pentagon's war machine. Here we are this week, again, debating another obscene $892.6 billion military budget. It is not helping our veterans. That is not where they get, literally, healthcare, mental health support, and the things they need. That is over a trillion dollars to Trump's so-called Department of War, even after the Pentagon failed seven audits in a row.

As recently as 2023, the Pentagon could not even account for 62 percent of its assets--a trillion dollars, while the President is deploying troops in our neighborhoods and threatening to go to war against American cities.

It seems my colleagues can always find time and money for war, but when it comes to clean water, when it comes to being able to address the needs of our people, there is never enough money.

Why is it that when it comes to, again, trying to make sure people have healthcare, being able to address the Housing crisis, being able to tell our families that we are doing the best that we can, all I see is the bipartisan support for a war machine budget that can't pass an audit?

I want people to look at this and pay attention because they will never, ever fully fund Medicaid, universal school meals for every hungry child, or guarantee healthcare as a human right in our country. I think maybe it is because many of my colleagues in this Chamber are actively profiting financially when they vote to pass more funding for weapons and war because they own stock in war manufacturing.

I introduced an amendment to this war machine budget to add the Stop Politicians Profiting from War Act to put an end to this corruption by banning Members of Congress and their families from owning defense stocks.

My colleagues should not be able to use their positions of power to get rich from defense contractors while voting to pass more funding for war. Our elected officials should not be able to profit off of death.

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

The American people deserve better. We are sick and tired of politicians profiting off of endless wars.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take the time to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of my dear friend and neighbor, Michael Friedman, a tireless champion of social and economic justice and workplace democracy.

From his early days as a truck driver and founding member of Teamsters for a Democratic Union to his distinguished legal career, Mike's life was rooted in advancing the rights and dignity of working people.

Mike believed deeply in the power of unions and cooperatives to transform lives for the better.

As general counsel at the Center for Community-Based Enterprise, Mike dedicated himself to helping businesses transition to worker ownership, empowering employees, and strengthening communities.

Mike was an active social justice organizer in Detroit for decades. He cofounded our local Jewish Voice for Peace chapter and helped lead their work challenging the U.S. support for the Israeli Government's apartheid and genocide in Gaza.

His legacy will continue to inspire all of us who fight for justice, equity, and workers' rights. Our thoughts are with his wife, Barbara Harvey, and their family during this very difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I was proud of the community members who stood with us and partnered with me in creating the Fix Our Flooded Basements Act.

Many people might not know this, but FEMA will provide financial help toward getting a new furnace and water heater, but they will not help in mitigating the toxins and the mold that can be created if they don't get rid of the water in order to clean out the basement.

In southeastern Michigan, we have seen that firsthand. We had two national emergency declarations.

Water damage, as you know, can lead to long-term issues created by toxic mold, which impacts the health of the family in the home.

Again, too many of our families were denied FEMA assistance because the current rules do not cover repairs to most basements where floods are often the most destructive. Again, it can lead to toxic mold if not mitigated.

Mr. Speaker, as flooding becomes more frequent due to the climate crisis, it is crucial that we take action to require FEMA to provide flood victims with the full resources that they need to rebuild their lives.

I still remember the senior in Inkster, Michigan. She was in her seventies, Mr. Speaker. After the first declaration, her basement was flooded. She did not have the means, nor the capabilities to be able to get rid of the water that was in her basement.

When I came by to visit her again, the water froze in her basement due to the weather. Years later, she is now dealing with toxic mold.

Mr. Speaker, we need to have a legislative fix that will help to mitigate those issues to make sure that our families are not living in unsafe conditions by being exposed to serious health risks from mold, mildew, and moisture damage.

Mr. Speaker, these are people who are recovering from a disaster. To have FEMA say: No, we cannot help in this regard, even though they were exchanging the water heater, helping with the furnace, the fact that they will not mitigate the basement, again, leaves many of our families out.

Mr. Speaker, a lot of my colleagues who have signed on to support this bill have realized for the first time that FEMA did not do this, and maybe it was created because it was for the coastal communities, but we know communities like Michigan are now impacted in the Midwest.

The Fix Our Flooded Basements Act will make sure that Federal disaster assistance finally covers all of the mitigation needs for basement water damage. The bill would expand the coverage for Federal assistance to cover the cost of repairing property and flood damage to basements after a major disaster.

Mr. Speaker, our residents must be able to live safely and fully rebuild their lives after disaster strikes. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation. It is critically important for our families.

Ending Corporate Greed Through Price Gouging

Mr. Speaker, families in our communities are facing an affordability crisis. We hear it at our townhalls. We hear it on every corner of our communities. Families are struggling with rising grocery costs. The cost of groceries has gone up 28 percent, and the majority of Americans say that grocery prices are the major source of stress for their families.

Corporations are now using new technology to raise prices in new ways and without the knowledge of the consumer. Electronic shelf labels allow stores to change prices in seconds. The industry is not shy about it. They admit to raising the price of water and ice cream if it is hot outside. Even worse, corporations are tracking consumers and using their own personal, private information against them.

We all know that companies collect and purchase a tremendous amount of our private data and personal information. These custom, personal profiles on many of our families and residents allow companies to charge different people different prices for the same exact item by using things like mobile apps, online shopping, and facial recognition technology.

This is called surveillance pricing, and all of us need to wake up and see that this technology is fixing prices and increasing costs for our families.

Target, for example, charged higher prices to consumers who were using their app when they were inside their stores, assuming that the consumer either wouldn't notice or was unlikely to go anywhere else.

Mr. Speaker, this is outrageous and wrong. Companies should not be able to use consumers' online history, past purchases, the color of their skin, their income, where they work, or their ZIP Code to charge them a higher price.

Surveillance pricing will lead to increased costs for food and basic goods. It will harm working families who are already struggling to make ends meet. This is not just about discriminatory technology. It is about corporate greed in our country, and CEOs are getting richer while working people struggle.

I introduced the Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act to ban personalized price gouging by grocery stores, and I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I want to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Ignacio Gonzalez, whom we lovingly called Ziggy, a beloved son of Detroit.

Ziggy was a proud veteran and dedicated educator. He lived a remarkable life of 94 years.

Born in 1930, Ziggy served in the United States Air Force before returning home to raise a family and dedicate his life to teaching and coaching.

As a beloved educator at Western International High School, Mr. G inspired countless students with his humor, wisdom, and unshakeable belief in their potential.

Ziggy was also the heart and soul of Clark Park, where he got the name Mr. Clark Park, and built hockey and baseball programs that gave young people a place to play and belong.

His love of family, sports, community, and music, especially jazz, reflected the very best of Detroit.

The 12th Congressional District extends our love to his wife and loved ones as we celebrate his life and commitment to carrying forward his legacy.