Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as mayor of Long Beach, California, for the last 8 years, I know how vital our ports are to both our local and national economies. There are also enormous environmental concerns that disproportionately impact working-class communities that live around our ports.

The global shipping industry emits 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions every single year, and pollution from port ships has led to some of the highest cancer and asthma rates in the country. In fact, ships pollute more than cargo trucks coming in and out of our ports.

While I am proud of the work that California has done to reduce emissions at our ports, it is time for additional Federal support and intervention.

That is why I proudly introduced the Clean Shipping Act. This is transformational climate legislation that for the first time gives the EPA the authority to regulate carbon emissions from our shipping industry and accelerates our transition to zero emission fuels by 2040.

The legislation is coauthored by Senator Padilla in the Senate and is a path forward to cleaner air. Let's get this climate legislation done.

Mr. Speaker, America just went through the largest health crisis and loss of life event in the modern era. Due to the pandemic, we lost over 1.3 million Americans, including my own mom and stepdad. That is why I have introduced the FLASH Act to help strengthen our Nation's ability to respond to a public health crisis.

I was the mayor of Long Beach during the pandemic and worked every single day on the response. Both Governor Newsom and President Biden called our pandemic response a national model. We moved quickly to vaccinate 99 percent of seniors, protect frontline workers, and reopen schools ahead of most major cities, but in the first months of the pandemic, we struggled to get lifesaving equipment without Federal help.

My bill will help the Department of Health and Human Services cut through red tape to quickly buy and distribute PPE, tests, medical supplies, and vaccines. We need this bill, and that is why I am urging my colleagues to support this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution is a joke.

They are trying to smear Congressman Schiff for his work to defend our institutions. Meanwhile, the same people who attack Adam Schiff for seeking the truth refuse to take action against a serial and admitted fraudster in their own Conference.

Adam Schiff did not win his elections on false pretenses. He has not been accused of crimes in the U.S., nor has he admitted to crimes in Brazil. Unfortunately, not all my House colleagues on the Republican side can say the same.

Thirty-five days ago, every House Republican voted to defend George Santos. Instead, they want to censure someone who stands for truth and justice, Adam Schiff.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend both the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the ILWU, and the Pacific Maritime Association, the PMA, for reaching a new 6-year contract just last night for 22,000 workers across 29 West Coast ports.

This agreement is critical for our economy and recognizes the heroic work of all frontline dock workers, who worked tirelessly throughout our entire supply chain crisis to move our economy forward.

As mayor of Long Beach, I oversaw our port, which supports 2.6 million jobs across the country. As co-chair of the Ports Caucus, I am proud to have worked with both sides throughout the entire bargaining process. This deal would not have been possible without the work of President Biden and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.

Julie's engagement was key and proved why she should be confirmed swiftly by the Senate.

This news builds upon Tuesday's report that showed inflation has fallen for 11 months in a row.

Our ports will continue to fight inflation and bring back jobs.

Mr. Speaker, the House library is open.

I rise to commemorate the start of Pride Month by honoring the one and only queen of drag, RuPaul. An artist, a philanthropist, and a barrier breaker, RuPaul Charles has become an American phenomenon and an icon. Nobody has more charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent than RuPaul Charles.

Ru's career launched as a drag performer in New York, and then as a successful pop artist, releasing his first hit album, ``Supermodel of the World.'' In total, he has released 15 studio albums.

RuPaul also became the first gay Black man to host his own talk show, ``The RuPaul Show.'' He is most known, of course, for his multi-Emmy- award winning show, ``RuPaul's Drag Race.''

``RuPaul's Drag Race,'' and its many domestic and international spin- offs, has put drag in the global spotlight. The show has helped lunch and uplift the careers of thousands of drag queens and artists. But more importantly, the show has served as a critical space to discuss issues around inclusion, trans rights, mental health, and self-worth.

This message couldn't be more important as the LGBTQ+ community continues to fight for equality and acceptance. The world needs more love and, yes, more RuPaul. I thank RuPaul Charles for his years of leadership in our community and his activism.

This Pride Season, as we recommit to celebrating diversity, difference, and self-love, we must always remember what RuPaul so famously says: ``If you can't love yourself, how the hell are you going to love somebody else?''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Republican plan to destroy our Nation's economy. Right now hundreds of Republican Members of Congress have rushed out of town to go on vacation with their friends and family. Democrats are here ready to work.

Americans are facing the reality of losing their retirement savings, jobs, and healthcare. Here are just some of the extreme demands that House Republicans have made: They want to cut 100,000 jobs for teachers; they want to put health insurance at risk for 21 million Americans; they want to put food assistance at risk for 1 million Americans.

This is cruel and shameful.

Let's be clear: House Republicans want to tank the economy and they want to give tax cuts to billionaires and large corporations. We have a default on our debt coming because House Republicans would rather be on vacation than get to work.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to House Republicans' efforts to eliminate critical student loan relief.

Now, as an educator, it is shameful to me that my colleagues could look at this crisis of student debt in our country and decide to intentionally make it worse for 40 million Americans.

These are the same people that voted for tax breaks for billionaires and large corporations, and now they are telling everyday people that we can't afford to help them, and it is appalling.

When I was in the classroom, I saw my students take out loans for basic needs like rent and putting food on the table. We tell kids to go get an education, to go to college, to work toward the American Dream, but that also means taking out, oftentimes, thousands of dollars of loans.

Student loan debt also disproportionately impacts people of color, low-income students, and millions of young people that may not have had access to financial training. Millionaires are not burdened with student debt; working-class people are.

So let's be clear: Republicans in the House are putting billionaires and large corporations over students.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to a question of the privileges of the House and offer a resolution previously noticed.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges of the House.

The form of the resolution is as follows:

House Resolution 114.

Resolved, That, pursuant to article I, section 5, clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States, Representative George Santos, be, and he hereby is, expelled from the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation faces an affordable housing and climate crisis. That is why I have introduced the People Over Parking Act to eliminate parking minimum requirements near high-quality public transit.

Parking minimum mandates create a certain number of spaces, regardless of the needs of people who live there. This could add tens of thousands of dollars per space to construction costs.

Additionally, many spaces go unused, even as financial costs are passed on to renters regardless of whether or not

they own a car. In one study, parking mandates increase rent costs by 20 percent.

Our legislation doesn't prevent property owners from providing parking spots. It simply lets owners respond to local demand rather than mandates.

Eliminating parking minimums would also help reduce harmful emissions and reduce the heat island effect in cities.

By encouraging more people to live close to high-quality transit, we can afford more housing, increase transit ridership, protect our climate, and reduce transit congestion.

Mr. Speaker, it is both good housing and climate policy.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to this un-American and cruel bill.

Now, I immigrated to this country as a small child, and I love our country for all it has provided me and my family. Immigrants love this country. They dedicate their lives to working, and they make a community stronger.

This bill does not uphold our values as a nation. A bill that was true to those values would uplift and celebrate the contributions of immigrants. Real patriots know that love of country is actually about helping people.

Let's be crystal clear. We all want a safe and secure border, and the best way to achieve that is through comprehensive immigration reform and creating legal pathways for people who want to come here to work.

Sadly, this bill does not do that. Instead, it doubles down on a failed anti-immigrant agenda. This bill guts the fundamental right to seek asylum. It strips protections for unaccompanied children, and it wastes more money on Donald Trump's pointless border wall, a monument to hate which does nothing to protect us.

Now, in the Homeland Security Committee, I helped lead the fight against harmful provisions of this bill that target nonprofits who partner with our border agencies to care for our asylum seekers, but House Republicans are moving ahead with these disastrous policies that would require charities to check the immigration status of those who need care even in a crisis.

By defunding nonprofits, this cold-hearted bill would ignore what the Gospel teaches us. It ignores our brothers and sisters who are tired, poor, hungry, and sick; those who are most in need of help.

If this bill ever becomes law, it would cause chaos and suffering.

We need real immigration reform, and America is ready for that debate. Let's rise to the occasion and create an America that reflects kindness and centers on helping people. Being anti-immigrant is being anti-American.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Green New Deal, which I am proud to cosponsor with Senator Markey and Representative Ocasio-Cortez.

We are in a climate emergency, and we must work together to fight back and build an economy for everyone, an economy that just doesn't meet the threats of climate change but also directly invests in our communities.

Everyone deserves safe water to drink, clean air to breathe, and a healthy place to live. Right now, we are not just failing the next generation; we are failing Americans today.

This impacts all of us, from low-income communities that have been victims of environmental injustice to the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on agriculture. We must be prepared to lead and understand the link between housing and climate justice.

Our cities need active and green public transit and walkable neighborhoods. We can build a sustainable future and create good union jobs.

Our country needs a Green New Deal, and I pledge to keep fighting for those values every single day.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time.

Mr. Chair, I rise today in anger and strong opposition to this bill. Now, I know how painful life can be as an openly gay person, but that pales in comparison to what transgender Americans face every day.

Our voters send us here to address our country's biggest challenges, but instead of taking that responsibility seriously, House Republicans are choosing to bully and belittle trans children. This is about attacking a small group of children, and it is shameful.

These people don't give a damn about women or girls. If they did, we would be talking about the very real problems of paid equity and ensuring sports are safe from sexual harassment and abuse, but instead, they are peddling open bigotry and its disgusting BS culture war right here from the House floor. Why are Republicans so obsessed with attacking trans youth and children? We need answers.

To the trans and nonbinary youth that are watching this, I am so sorry your government is failing you today. We will never stop fighting to defend your dignity and your humanity. We love you.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the International Human Rights Defense Act, which I am honored to have joined with Senator Markey and Representative Jacobs in introducing just this week.

Now, this is the first bill I have introduced as a Member of Congress and it is an issue that is very personal to me. As the first LGBTQ+ immigrant to serve in this body, I know how important it is for the U.S. to stand for human rights around the world.

Right now, there are nearly 70 countries around the world where LGBTQ+ people are criminalized just for being themselves. In 11 countries, you can be executed for loving your partner, and we know that discrimination exists all across the country and the globe.

Here in the U.S., even our freedoms are being rolled back as we see what happened just this last week in this very Chamber attacking trans people. Our bill ensures that regardless of who sits in the Oval Office, our foreign policy should always reflect a strong commitment to human rights.

This bill permanently creates an LGBTQ+ global envoy office at ambassador-rank level and codifies numerous goals and initiatives within the State Department. LGBTQ+ rights are human rights.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in both sadness and anger.

I know how painful life can be as an openly gay person. Like so many in our community, I have also experienced harassment because of who I am, but these challenges pale in comparison to the onslaught of attacks against the trans community in this country today.

House Republicans attack trans people as threats to kids, religious liberty, and our local schools, but that just isn't true. The true threats are the discriminatory proposals against trans Americans that are being made in chambers and statehouses across the country.

Sports bans, bathroom bills, and healthcare restrictions demonize and dehumanize trans people. With higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide, these bills literally mean the difference between life and death for so many in this community, but many in this Chamber don't seem to care.

It is part of a plan to ignite culture wars at the expense of trans lives. As an immigrant embraced by this country, I believe that being a true patriot means advocating for all of our people across the country. That is why I will do everything in my power to ensure and safeguard the rights of all Americans, and that includes our transgender community.

The trans community has been at the front lines of the struggle for justice and equality. Please know that we will be there right beside you, fighting against these cruel and un-American attacks.

Trans rights are human rights. We will continue to fight until we win.

Recognizing Cal State Long Beach's 50th Annual Powwow

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Cal State Long Beach's 50th annual powwow. Specifically, I recognize the First Nations and first stewards of the land where this event is held every single year.

The Cal State Long Beach powwow is the longest running and largest social celebration west of the Mississippi River honoring Native and indigenous peoples.

I had the pleasure of attending this event just recently and was incredibly impressed by the skill and love shared with this community event. This year's celebration was especially important. It was the first time it was held since the pandemic.

Established by American Indian students in 1969, the powwow includes Native dancers from across the State, the Pacific Northwest, and even parts of Canada.

Events like this are important to highlight our Native American culture and presence within our country. It also serves to educate and develop the next generation of Native American leaders while bringing Tribes together to highlight art and unity.

In commemoration of the 50 years of the powwow, we congratulate and thank Cal State Long Beach.

Honoring Influential Artist Dave Van Patten

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support art in all its mediums. From paint to dance to music to story writing, our lives are enriched with the appreciation of the arts.

Today, I rise to recognize someone who has been an amazing and influential artist in the city of Long Beach, and that is Dave Van Patten.

Just last month, Dave topped his tremendous career by winning a Grammy for his work as artistic director of the box set album of Grateful Dead concerts titled: ``In and Out of the Garden.''

Dave Van Patten's work is iconic. You can see it all across the city of Long Beach, the city of Bellflower, and across the State and beyond. His ability to blend surrealism with comic book designs makes him a unique artist with a distinctive style across southern California. I am honored to know Dave. He is a constituent. He is a friend, and amazing artist transforming people's lives.

Dave, congratulations.