Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1949, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act.

Mr. Speaker, I asked for 2 minutes. I only need seven words: We should not be fueling our adversaries.

This bill strips the Department of Energy's authority to provide oversight on exports of liquefied natural gas to foreign adversaries like China and Russia, which poses what should be an obvious and grave threat to our national security.

Unfettered sale of LNG to countries like China and Russia would power their data centers, AI systems, and cyber missions, all by using American energy.

This legislation, importantly, is a departure from how we regulate all other energy sources. Sources like oil and coal, we have laws that impose certain restrictions on exports to foreign entities of concern, like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Mr. Speaker, under this new bill, LNG would not be subject to this policy, and I have to ask: Why?

If this bill is really about better supporting our allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, I support that, but there are currently no restrictions from literally fueling our adversaries. In fact, by exporting LNG, we could be risking higher domestic natural gas prices, meaning our constituents and our neighbors would face higher electricity bills and pay more at the gas pump.

That is why I planned on introducing legislation requiring DOE to certify that LNG exports to our foreign adversaries are actually in the public interest and aligned with our Nation's national security needs.

We must close this current loophole exempting LNG from oversight and affirm DOE's role in the process. The premise is simple. It is not and should not be controversial or partisan. We should not be fueling our adversaries.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give voice to an issue that has gone unaddressed for far too long, and it is one this body must take up before it is too late and lives are lost. We must address the alarmingly low staffing levels of firefighters on our military installations.

Recent reports indicate that the military service intends to eliminate vacant firefighter positions, restrict the use of overtime, and interpret requirements in a manner that could lead to station closures.

Let me be clear. While staffing level shortages have been an ongoing challenge, these new actions, coupled with the continued hiring freeze, put our servicemembers in harm's way.

It is why Congresswoman Kiggans and I wrote to the Secretaries of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force to ensure robust emergency services that maintain safety and mission readiness across the Force.

Across the DOD, more than 8,800 civilian firefighters respond to structural fires, aircraft emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, and other life-threatening events each year.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of a more critical and all-American cause or more of a win-win than having the backs of our fire firefighters and our servicemembers.

Mr. Speaker, on May 30, Severna Park and Maryland's Third Congressional District lost one of our youngest members of our community, Hugh Nie. Hugh was not even 18 months old when he died of sudden, unexplained death in childhood, or SUDC.

Hugh's parents, Eddie and Jessica, who are here today, described him as joy personified. He loved going to the park, circle time at the library, and getting booped in the nose at bath time.

With his loved ones, Hugh read over 1,000 books and was a dear friend to our public library system. In Hugh's memory, our community is now building Hugh's Corner at the Severna Park Library.

Mr. Speaker, there are approximately 400 cases of SUDC in the U.S. every year. Without a known cause or form of prevention, the NIH research conducted on SUDC is critical and could be lifesaving.

I urge my colleagues to join in supporting full funding for the NIH's lifesaving work so that not another family has to experience what the Nies have endured.

Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Madam Chair, House Natural Resources Committee Democrats strongly oppose Biggs amendment No. 29, which seeks to weaken the Department of Defense's work to preserve habitats crucial for military readiness and recovering vulnerable species.

The DOD covers millions of acres, spanning a vast array of natural habitats and providing that realistic backdrop for training and testing. Healthy and well-managed natural ecosystems play an essential role in maintaining the readiness of our military troops, an advantage that is unique to the U.S. military.

The military has even used ESA-listed wildlife to add complexity to training exercises, treating them as sensitive infrastructure to avoid as they would for schools or hospitals in another environment.

This amendment not only erodes this longstanding work, but it also doesn't reflect what the DOD actually needs. The DOD has not now or ever before requested this language.

Madam Chair, I strongly urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

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

Madam Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Tokuda).

Madam Chair, I will close by reiterating that the Department of Defense has not now nor ever before requested this language. Over 20 of my Republican colleagues recognize this very real truth, having voted against this exact language and understanding that responsible conservation and strong national defense go hand in hand.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Chair, I thank Ranking Member Smith and Chairman Rogers for their leadership and sincere and deep commitment to collaboration. As a freshman and new member to this committee, I was thrilled to see that collaboration and bipartisan commitment throughout the 9-month NDAA process, and there are good things in this bill, as we have heard.

Together, we secured language that defends the critical work of university-affiliated research centers that support the Department of Defense, like the Johns Hopkins applied physics lab. We required our military academies to address the very real readiness threats posed by extreme weather and sea-level rise. We delivered $10 million to better track suicide, sexual assault, harassment, and domestic abuse in the military.

Those are just three of the many wins our committee secured through the bipartisan process, which is why I am now pleading with my colleagues to ensure that this process does remain bipartisan.

I am old enough to remember that just 54 days ago, we passed this bill out of committee. We did not cede to the pressure to politicize this bill, and we worked together to support those who make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. That is why we cannot allow these poison pill amendments.

Just a few of those amendments will strip the collective bargaining rights of 400,000 civilian employees of the Department of Defense, collective bargaining rights they have held for 60 years. This bill does nothing to make sure we don't have U.S. troops used on U.S. civilians.

We cannot throw away the 9 months of good faith negotiations.

Madam Speaker, on March 13, the Department of Defense issued new guidance: Military health clinics overseas would no longer provide rape test kits to American civilian workers and contractors serving alongside our servicemembers abroad. These are our intelligence analysts, our teachers, our doctors, and our support staff performing critical roles all in support of our national security. We broke a fundamental promise with them, that when you serve your country in the most dangerous of places, your country will have your back.

I have spent my time on this House floor urging for the reversal of harmful cuts just like these, and I spend my time in committee questioning Secretary Hegseth as to why this policy was ever changed in the first place. Today, I am glad to report that 8 days after the hearing with Secretary Hegseth, that policy has been reversed.

It is proof that when the general public leans in and engages their government, and when Members of Congress amplify their voices, we can make meaningful change.

I will continue to call out the cuts of this Trump administration because the cost to all of us is far too great. There is too much at risk when this administration blindly takes a sledgehammer to the Federal Government and the services Americans deserve.

I urge my colleagues to follow this example.

Mr. Speaker, last month, Maryland lost a son, brother, grandson, teammate, mentor, and friend, Darren Foxwell, far too early.

Darren grew up playing Little League and working as a camp counselor at the YMCA. He had just graduated from Easton High School, ready to start college and take the first steps in his beautifully bright future this fall.

At just 18, he was already described by his peers as kind when no one was watching and with maturity and wisdom beyond his years. Yet, on an early Tuesday morning in June, the world lost Darren in a tragic car accident.

Darren's family has asked me to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the first responders on Maryland's Eastern Shore and the nurses and doctors at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, who, they described, ``treated him with urgency and dignity, and cared for us like family . . . even when they knew he wasn't going to make it.''

I add my gratitude to the best-in-the-world trauma system and its passionate team for their tireless work to save Darren's life, just as they work tirelessly to save the lives of thousands of patients every year, bringing that same compassion, urgency, and tenacity to heal those facing the worst emergencies imaginable.

May we carry Darren's loved ones--his sister, Colleen; his parents, Kerry and Len; his grandparents; and his teammates and friends--in our hearts.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Mr. Speaker, 7 years ago, on June 28, 2018, a gunman who should never have been able to purchase a firearm, walked into the Capital Gazette and killed five members of our hometown newspaper: Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters.

Amid the shock and horror, just hours after the shooting, the Capital issued a simple statement: We are putting out a damn paper tomorrow, and that they did.

These journalists made clear that the fourth estate cannot be silenced, and they made Maryland damn proud.

On this tragic anniversary, I will make it clear on this House floor that as elected officials, we were not sent here to look away, to give up, or to offer our thoughts and prayers alone. That is why I rise today to remember the journalists we lost, to continue the fight for full freedom of the press, and for commonsense gun safety legislation that protects all of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Eric Amick as he prepares for retirement after more than 23 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Eric was born in Cumberland, Maryland. In 1976, he graduated from Bishop Walsh High School. After high school, Eric attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where in 1980, he earned a bachelor's degree in computer science.

After college, Eric worked as a software engineer for S3 Technologies, NeuraITech, and Banktech.

In August 2002, Eric joined the Legislative Computer Systems, a division of the Office of the Clerk, as a software engineer. During his tenure, Eric worked on numerous mission critical applications, including the Electronic Voting System (EVS), the xMetaL, Member Information System (MIS), and most recently the Legislative Information Management system (LIMS). Eric's expertise in House documents and legislative data has been critical to many of the behind-the-scenes legislative activities that help this institution run smoothly.

Eric has dedicated 23 years of his professional career to the Office of the Clerk. He has worked under six Speakers of the House: the Honorables J. Dennis Hastert, Nancy Pelosi, John A. Boehner, Paul D. Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, and now, Mike Johnson.

In addition, Eric has worked for five Clerks of the House: the Honorables Jeff Trandahl, Karen L. Haas, Lorraine C. Miller, Cheryl L. Johnson, and Kevin F. McCumber.

Post retirement, Eric is looking forward to his next chapter of adventures. He plans to spend more time with his lifelong hobby, which includes trivia, crossword puzzles, and board games.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I want to thank Eric Amick for his wonderful service to this institution.

Mr. Speaker, this Gun Violence Prevention Month, I rise today to bring attention to the leading cause of death for children and teens in this country, which is firearms.

The reason we know that firearms are the leading cause of death for children is because of scientists and researchers at government agencies like the Centers For Disease Control.

Over the years, the CDC has advanced our Nation's public health through recommendations to improve things like vehicle design, smoke detectors, and bicycle helmets.

Yet this administration is now decimating CDC offices including the Division of Violence Prevention and the Division of Injury Prevention.

Mr. Speaker, as legislators, we have a shared responsibility to advance policies to keep our communities safe, but we cannot do that without good science and good data. We simply cannot understand the scope and the depth of the gun violence epidemic without the CDC doing its job.

That is why myself and House Democrats will fight for our world-class scientists, researchers, and health professionals every single day.

Mr. Speaker, 1.4 million meals have been lost at local food banks across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., because of the shortsighted funding cuts to the Department of Agriculture.

That is 1.4 million times in the last few months alone when our neighbors couldn't get a meal when they were in need. Maybe they opted to stretch one meal into two or decided to go to bed hungry so that they could afford rent.

Our food banks are there for our neighbors on their hardest days. Today, they are raising the alarm as they see record-high demand alongside very low unemployment.

Instead of solving this dire hunger problem, the Trump administration is now slashing critical funds to USDA.

It is rare to have a hat trick in public policy: a program that helps our small

farmers, supports our food banks, and gets healthy food into schools. Yet, this administration is cutting the very funding that food banks and local schools utilize to purchase food at farms, and they are leaving our neighbors and kids with fewer healthy, affordable options.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of a more American program that serves our communities, and that is why I will continue to fight for our food banks and our neighbors.

Mr. Speaker, the Trevor Project estimates that at least one LGBTQ+ youth attempts suicide every 45 seconds. That is less time than my remarks will take today.

Instead of addressing this very real public health crisis that our Nation's youth face, the Trump administration has issued a budget proposal that seeks to eliminate funding for specialized crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has saved countless lives. Mr. Speaker, when you call that lifeline, you have the option to seek care via a specialist. Those specialists serve veterans, callers who speak Spanish, and LGBTQ+ youth.

Mr. Speaker, 1.2 million Americans have selected that last option, but it might not be an option for much longer.

The service has saved lives and allowed Americans to receive the care they need on the hardest days of their lives. To me, that is what public service is all about. It is about being there for folks on their hardest days.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and this administration to support full funding for these lifesaving services.

Mr. Speaker, local law enforcement officers bravely and tirelessly work to protect our communities day in and day out. The situations that these law enforcement officers encounter put them, as we all know, at an increased risk of developing mental health disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

This Police Week, I thank the sponsors of the bill, my colleagues across the aisle, for introducing H.R. 2240, the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act.

I did offer an amendment to require that the Department of Justice include recommendations on improving training programs for domestic violence cases because far too often our local law enforcement officers are at the front lines of response to domestic violence cases. These situations not only need to be handled carefully with specialized training, but they also take a toll on officers' own well-being.

While this amendment was not made in order, I rise today because I believe it is essential to address the issues of domestic violence and the mental health of our officers in a bipartisan manner.

I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle in addressing this critical need and continuing to address these issues together.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here on the House floor as an American proudly and profoundly shaped by the wonder and joy of public television.

Mister Rogers taught us how to be a good neighbor. Bill Nye inspired us to ask questions and never give up on the search for discovery. ``Sesame Street'' taught us how to read and count while instilling values of sharing and empathy.

Mr. Speaker, I would be hard-pressed to find an American in this Nation whose childhood wasn't profoundly shaped by the magic of public television. For over 50 years, PBS has brought our kids educational, inspiring, and commercial-free media, but last week, the Trump administration issued an executive order slashing Federal funding to NPR and PBS, meaning that smaller stations would lose nearly half of their funding, posing an existential threat to the future of this media.

I contend that the values that PBS taught us all are exactly the values we need in this moment and the values we could use right here in this Chamber: how to think critically, how to care for the Earth and one another with respect and dignity, how to count votes, how to resolve our differences with manners and empathy, all of which is why I continue to push for the reinstatement of these funds so that future generations can benefit as I did. I will be fighting for viewers like you.