Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I am proud to stand here as vice chair of the New Democrat Coalition to make it clear that we are here, 5 weeks into this new Congress, fighting to end the chaos of this new administration and get us back to what the American people elected us to do: lowering costs, promoting safer communities, and actually governing.

The American people elected us to tackle the cost of living, not cut public education. The American people elected us to lower the price of groceries, not declare trade wars with allies that will raise those prices for Americans even further.

Mr. Speaker, the American people elected us to ensure their communities are protected, not give billionaires back doors into their personal data. I want the American people to see this, this room. This room is empty. The majority has gone home for the night. We have not even tackled one bill this whole week to deal with the high costs.

This is a coequal branch of government, but my colleagues seem content to give up our congressional power of the purse. Where is the so-called party of law and order? That party is willing to look the other way on enforcing the law, like the laws that protect funding approved by Congress into law.

The self-proclaimed party of law and order is willing to let chaos reign, and thousands of Americans see the funding they rely on to get frozen, their benefits put on the chopping block, and even their jobs eliminated by an unelected billionaire.

My constituents are crying out for us to do something, and I want to ensure them that we are doing something. We are here even as they get ready to turn off the lights. We are working to craft legislation that will block rightwing activists and the use of our power in this Chamber to halt all the efforts to deny the law and promote chaos over order.

New Dems are the tip of the spear. We will fight ill-conceived tariffs and plots to raise taxes to pay for tax cuts for the richest people in our country. We will fight invasions of our privacy. Of course, we will fight to deliver what we hear every single day: Lower the costs of living, make our communities safer, and stop the chaos and gridlock.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, my amendment to H.R. 471 simply allows the U.S. Forest Service to approve the removal of hazardous trees or vegetation near power poles or power lines on Federal land without the need for a timber sale.

Unfortunately, catastrophic wildfires continue to ravage California and the Western United States. We do need some commonsense solutions that balance sustainable forest management practices with reducing wildfire risks. My amendment strives to find this balance.

I firmly believe that if we can take action to prevent wildfires, we should. We know it pays to be prepared. We also know there are solutions that can help mitigate the impacts of wildfires, but apart from this, I also know that we need to act to address the underlying intensity of these extreme weather events fueled by the climate crisis.

Apart from supporting my amendment, I also urge my colleagues to continue to work to find commonsense solutions to act on this crisis impacting so many American families.

My thoughts continue to be with the people who have lost loved ones and their homes in these horrific fires.

I also thank the brave first responders and firefighters who have been battling these fires.

Mr. Chairman, again, I urge passage of my amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chair, may I inquire as to the amount of time remaining on both sides.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).

Mr. Chairman, I think my amendment provides a glimmer of hope in this bill that certainly could use some improvements. I am happy that my amendment is being considered.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say: Los Angeles, we are with you.

Our hearts are with every single family who has lost a loved one, a livelihood, or some part of their community.

We give thanks to the heroic first responders working to contain these fires.

I also rise to ask, Mr. Speaker, are these families not American? What makes these families different from families we have helped after hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods in other States?

To suggest that we should hold hostage the aid we give to these American families, families who have lost everything, is wrong and un- American. Just look at what has been approved over the past decade, especially for so-called red States, I might add.

Have we ever said that those families should be punished for their State's political choices? Absolutely not. I am appalled and, frankly, sickened at the calls for conditioning aid for these families, these American families. They are crying out for help.

Congress should respond immediately without hesitation or delay. Here is the map. Look at where the money has gone in the past decade.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage every Member of this Chamber to support my legislation honoring the legacy and service of one of the favorite sons of Santa Maria, California, former mayor and veteran, Larry Lavagnino.

My bill would name the post office in Santa Maria in recognition of Larry Lavagnino's steadfast love and service for Santa Maria, including 10 years as its mayor from 2002 to 2012.

Larry's story is homegrown. He started as a local kid, attending Santa Maria schools, including Santa Maria Union High School and Allan Hancock College. After earning his degree, he served in the United States Navy for 4 years.

After the Navy, he returned home and began his service to Santa Maria as a supervisor's staff member in county government.

Later, after an extensive career in the private sector, he continued his public service as a city council member, then as mayor.

During his time as mayor, Santa Maria saw a new library, transit center, three new fire stations, a new police department building, the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant, and much more.

He also secured more than $46 million in Federal funding for improvements to the Santa Maria River Levee, which protects thousands of homes and businesses. Thanks to his service as mayor, his leadership in Santa Maria Valley Beautiful and the Elks Lodge, and his work in many other roles, Santa Maria would not be the same place without him.

His championing of bipartisanship, a Republican working across the aisle with Democrats to get things done, is exactly the kind of spirit we need more of here in Washington. Every community should be so lucky to have a Larry Lavagnino.

Mr. Speaker, again, I ask my colleagues to join me in this recognition so we can thank Larry; his wife, Donna; and his children for his incredible career of service by passing my bill to name the Santa Maria post office in his honor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the third anniversary of the bipartisan infrastructure law which has delivered over a billion dollars and 13,000 jobs in my district.

I see the way this legislation is helping out communities. That is why I am committed to protecting it in the next administration.

Either out of misguided priorities or merely out of revenge, I know there are Members in this Chamber who have expressed eagerness to dismantle these programs.

We have already been calling out people who voted ``no'' but still took the dough. Now we need to be ready to highlight how these efforts to undermine these laws would harm middle-class working families.

In my role in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I will work to protect our landmark achievements every single day. I will happily remind my colleagues who may suddenly embrace government spending, again, under President Trump, who is really to thank for the communities' improved quality of life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call this body's attention to a dangerous violation of the rule of law across our southern border.

Two years ago, the Mexican Government seized a quarry owned and operated by Vulcan Materials Company, an American company, near Playa del Carmen.

This quarry is a vital part of our construction supply chain across North America, supplying materials that fuel the revitalization of our Nation made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Chips and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and other landmark bills we have passed in recent years.

Every Member of this body should be concerned about the brazen action by an American ally and our largest trading partner.

In response, I helped introduce the Defending American Property Abroad Act, a bipartisan and bicameral legislation to deter such abuse.

As we urge President Lopez Obrador to reverse course, and as the Mexican Government continues to take disturbing steps that erode the rule of law and democratic ideals, I encourage each and all of my colleagues to sign onto our bill to protect American property and safeguard our future relationship with Mexico and other trading partners.

Madam Speaker, in honor of National Aerospace Week, I rise to recognize the vital role the aerospace industry plays in our Nation's economy, security, and technological leadership.

The United States is on the cutting edge of aerospace technology because of the people who dared to do the unimaginable, just like the Wright brothers over 120 years ago.

Because we dreamed big, we have flown faster than the speed of sound and put mankind on the Moon. We have made flying and space launch a normal occurrence. What used to be science fiction is now a fact of life.

Aviation has become an integral part of our society and our economy. Every day in the United States alone, nearly 3 million people fly on 45,000 flights. The industry continues to grow each year.

In 2023, the aerospace industry contributed $425 billion to the U.S. GDP and supported over 2.2 million jobs. It is also a key tenet of our National Defense Strategy, equipping servicemembers with the most advanced and effective systems in the world.

As co-chair of the House Aerospace Caucus, I am proud to recognize our Nation's incredible aerospace industry and its workforce, our pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, engineers, and others who will help us continue to soar to new heights.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to stand with our Nation's firefighters, including our Federal and wildland firefighters and to thank them for the tireless and dangerous work they are doing in California at this very moment.

In the past week alone, there have been more than a dozen new wildfires in California totaling nearly 50,000 acres across our State.

In San Bernardino, the Line fire has burned and has forced thousands to evacuate. The Bridge fire, the Davis fire, the Boyles fire, the Airport fire, and the Chimineas fire in my region near the Carrizo Plain is, thankfully, nearly contained.

However, consider this: as Californians have been baking this week in an extreme heat wave, our brave Federal firefighters choose to put on heavy gear and head into that heat.

They spend these scorching months cutting down trees, digging lines, and sleeping yards away from these deadly wildfires to keep us safe. If we don't act soon, Congress is going to thank these brave firefighters for their service with a pay cut.

We took a great step in 2021 with our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which provided a 50 percent pay raise to these heroes, but we cannot let that vital provision expire now.

The Forest Service predicts that this pay cut and loss of benefits could lead to one-half of our Federal and wildland firefighters leaving their jobs, leaving the entire American West at risk.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I thank my friend, Assistant Leader Neguse, for hosting this critical session tonight. Our firefighters have an exceptional champion in the gentleman. Let's get this done for our heroes who put their lives on the line every single day.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, as a proud marine veteran and the Representative for more than 34,000 of my fellow veterans across California's 24th Congressional District, I am proud to see the real impact that the Honoring our PACT Act has had for veterans and their families across the United States.

Mr. Speaker, 2 years ago, we came together with President Joe Biden to pass the largest and most significant expansion of veterans benefits in more than 30 years.

Since then, we have seen more than 1.5 million claims filed for toxic exposures and other health risks resulting from service in Vietnam, the Gulf war, and wars of the post-9/11 era.

More than 2,000 of those claims have come from veterans in my own region.

We cannot give up the momentum on this important bill.

While we have seen so many already utilizing these expanded benefits, current estimates suggest that more than 5 million veterans were exposed to some amount of toxic substances during their military service.

That is why I am encouraging all veterans who submitted an intent to file last summer make sure they are following through and submitting an actual claim as soon as possible to ensure that our veterans can get backdated benefits to the date that this bill was signed into law.

I thank Ranking Member Takano and the House Democratic leadership for helping uplift this important deadline and reminding the American people in our veteran communities that we are still here every week fighting for their health, safety, and prosperity, all of which were earned by their years and decades of service.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to remind this Chamber and our Nation that it has been over 100 days since congressional Republicans blocked a bipartisan bill to restore order at the border and fix our immigration system.

Week after week, only toothless, do-nothing resolutions attacking the President have been brought forward. When my colleagues across the aisle were presented with a bipartisan bill to actually tackle the chaos at our southern border, crack down on fentanyl trafficking, and begin to fix our broken immigration system, they said that is not their problem to solve.

This is a bill that would have hired nearly 2,000 new border personnel and immigration judges and streamlined our asylum system, making the process faster and fairer. It would have funded new inspection machines that could have been screening for deadly fentanyl for the past 100 days if only my Republican colleagues would have brought this bill up for a vote.

Madam Speaker, actions speak louder than words. One hundred days is already too long to wait. Let's vote on this bill today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for the FAA reauthorization and commend Chairman Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for crafting this bipartisan agreement.

This bill represents what we can achieve when we work together in good faith to advance the priorities of all our communities.

It will help us create a safer and cleaner aviation system while maintaining American leadership in aviation and aerospace innovation.

Additionally, the bill includes many of our priorities, including: providing $4 billion for airport infrastructure; tackling PFAS contamination through my bills to establish a new reimbursement program to help airports replace toxic firefighting foams and requiring regular reports from Federal agencies; and, to support the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base, ensuring the FAA can improve real-time data sharing of space launches and reentries with air traffic controllers in the field.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024. I am proud to have played a part in its development and passage out of committee. I appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Chairman Sam Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chair Webster. This legislation is an example of how working together in a bipartisan way can result in good legislation.

As one of the six branches of the armed services, the U.S. Coast Guard protects our national security and is an essential asset to DoD missions overseas. Often facilitating diplomatic relations resulting from unique authorities, the Coast Guard fosters partnerships with other countries not easily achieved by other branches. This bill will renew and enhance support for critical missions of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Every day, coasties work to safeguard our economic interests and ensure the fluidity of the marine transportation system. They maintain our Nation's waterways for the sake of commerce and human and environmental safety. Time after time, these brave coasties have demonstrated their resourcefulness, but they need our support.

The increased funding in today's bill signals our confidence in the Coast Guard and begins down the road to providing the resources coasties need to successfully complete their missions.

The Coast Guard is facing a precarious future with an aging fleet, crumbling infrastructure, and a recruiting shortfall.

In order to grow the service, we must ensure servicemembers are safe from harm, trust their leadership, and receive the benefits they have earned. That is why H.R. 7659 includes the Coast Guard Protection and Accountability Act of 2024, which will hold the Coast Guard accountable and ensure transparency in the wake of Operation Fouled Anchor and efforts by the service to hide decades' worth of sexual assault and sexual harassment.

This legislation begins to address the worsening mariner shortage by authorizing the modernization of the mariner credentialing system and modernizing mariner eligibility. This bill will provide long-term, sustainable jobs for American mariners.

I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on this important legislation, and I look forward to seeing it passed into law.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's concern about our shared commitment to rapidly develop clean energy. I also believe that the American maritime industry should play a meaningful role in the development and maintenance of offshore energy. If everyone comes together to negotiate a compromise, I believe everyone's concerns can be addressed.

Ranking Member Larsen and I are committed to finding that compromise, but it is important that all stakeholders, including offshore wind developers, come to the table to accomplish that.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen).

Mr. Speaker, I, again, thank Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and subcommittee Chair Webster.

I would also like to thank our bipartisan staff on the Republican side John Rayfield, Reed Linsk, Cameron Humphrey, Nicole Bredariol, and Ian Orr; and on the Democratic side Matt Dwyer, Cheryl Dickson, and Johanna Montiel of my staff.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for this bipartisan legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, each year, through the Women of the Year Award, my office extends special recognition to women on the Central Coast who have made a difference in our community. I would like to recognize one outstanding Women of the Year Award recipient, Violet Sage Walker of San Luis Obispo, California.

Violet is the chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC), a non-profit offering a foundation for the Chumash people of San Luis Obispo County to continue practicing their heritage and culture with dignity and vibrancy. She assumed the position after the passing of her father, Native American Tribal Chief Fred Harvey Collins, on October 1, 2021, and continues to advance Chumash heritage and culture in partnership with a broad community of Tribal allies, conservation organizations, and others.

As leader of the NCTC, Violet's mission is to protect the sacred places for those who were here long ago, for those here now, and for those who are still coming. The Central Coast is home to many sacred locations that are mentioned in Chumash oral tradition which include stories (saga' squatinas'ni) and context over the past 15,000 years, including an older recorded date at Point Conception, an extremely important Chumas Sacred Place known to Native Americans as the Western Gate (Humqaq).

For Violet, one of those duties is serving as the nominator of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, the first Indigenous-led sanctuary nomination and one that tribal elders and members of the local community in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties have advocated for decades. As proposed, this sanctuary bridges the physical gap of protection between the Monterey Bay and Channel Islands national marine sanctuaries. It will enhance the lifeforce (tishwin) of coastal ocean waters and shorelines by integrating and engaging the traditional knowledge of the indigenous People in partnership with scientists, environmental public interest groups, and diverse members of the concerned public.

So far. the proposal has received an overwhelmingly positive response, and the plan is to provide formal designation by mid-2024.

Violet's continued leadership to the Chumash people and the San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara County community is an inspiration to men and women throughout the district. Her ongoing efforts ensure that the heritage and legacy of the Chumash are respected and will endure for generations to come.

I am honored to recognize Violet Sage Walker for her continued commitment to the Central Coast. I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 24th Congressional District for her incredible work in the community.

Mr. Speaker, each year, through the Women of the Year Award, my office extends special recognition to women on the Central Coast who have made a difference in our community. I would like to recognize one outstanding Women of the Year Award recipient, Gail Crawford of San Luis Obispo, California.

For Gail, service to others is not just a profession--it's a way of life. Not only has she spent over two decades valuing our beloved veterans as a Commander in the United States Navy Nurse Corps, she's also successfully raised two children as a single mother while serving non-profits caring for homeless dogs and cats. As evidence of the profound impact on those she's cared for, many families have named their babies after her.

One of her most enduring moments was when she served Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, a renowned Level I Trauma Center. Gail's expertise spanned critical care units such as burn and trauma, neuro, thoracic ICU, and the Emergency Department. She was notably on duty during the Boston Marathon bombing, when her unwavering courage and compassion healed the course of many lives for the better.

Now residing in San Luis Obispo, Gail continues her legacy of service with unyielding devotion. In her role at the San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Collaborative and the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum, Gail's expertise and tireless work ethic are invaluable assets. Her vigorous efforts have transformed the landscape of veteran support in our community. At the San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge, she orchestrates a multitude of veteran dinners, fundraisers, and events. Gail consistently draws widespread participation and support. Her visionary leadership led to the creation of the Veterans Services Collaborative, a pivotal hub of over 60 agencies providing essential assistance to more than 1,000 veterans. Gail's commitment to veterans also extends to supporting the Para Olympic Surfing Championship in Pismo Beach demonstrating inclusivity for all. Her instrumental role in major projects, including ``The Wall That Heals'' and Anglers' Anonymous fishing trips for veterans, further exemplifies her profound impact on the veteran community.

Gail's belief in serving everyone extends to animals, as she volunteers at Woods Humane Society, a local nonprofit dedicated to the human care of homeless dogs and cats. Their work relies on the dedication of volunteers such as Gail. Amongst her peers, she is often referred to as a ``humble servant'' whose devotion transcends all boundaries. Gail's relentless commitment and tireless efforts exemplify the qualities of a true Woman of the Year.

In honoring Gail Crawford's remarkable achievements, we celebrate her enduring legacy of service, which continues to uplift and inspire lives in the 24th District and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, each year, through the Women of the Year Award, my office extends special recognition to women on the Central Coast who have made a difference in our community. I would like to recognize one outstanding Women of the Year Award recipient, Rosalyn Rivera of Santa Maria, California.

Rosalyn Rivera is an amazingly compassionate, positive, and resilient volunteer. She also acts as a long-distance caregiver for her father, Hector in Puerto Rico, who was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease at fifty-eight years old. She knows well the journey of a caregiving daughter and has made it her mission to assist others as they care for their loved ones.

Rosalyn is a champion in the community, a role model for those living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. She has been a volunteer and an advocate for the Alzheimer's Association for many years. On top of that, she has led efforts to bring awareness and education on Alzheimer's to Santa Maria, as well as the broader Central Coast area. She not only leads our advocacy efforts in the district, but volunteers with every aspect of the Alzheimer's Association.

Currently, Rosalyn is training as a community educator with an interest in outreach, especially within Spanish-speaking communities. In this role, she plans to assist with education on dementia--what it is, what it isn't, and how to communicate about it more effectively. She will show people where to find resources and how to better understand those who are dealing with the disease.

With her dedication and passion, Rosalyn has improved every community she has lived in. In fact, everything she works on and learns at the Alzheimer's Association, Central Coast Chapter, she takes back to her home community in Puerto Rico to raise awareness among those impacted by the disease.

Rosalyn is guided by a true and humble desire to make a positive impact on the world around her. She impressively juggles being a mother, a daughter, a caregiver, an employee, and a volunteer all in one day. She performs every one of those roles exceptionally and gives her one hundred percent to everything.

Rosalyn is a shining example of perseverance through deep personal and familial struggle. She models compassion, care, and dedication for all those in her community. Even more, she has committed to reaching beyond her community to benefit others.

I am honored to recognize Rosalyn Rivera, for her exemplary leadership and volunteerism in ensuring the resources and information are available to everyone in the Central Coast. I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 24th Congressional District, Rosalyn Rivera.