Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following Proclamation honoring the life of Samuel Bruce, Jr.

Whereas, on behalf of the Congress of the United States and the United States of America, want the family of Samuel Bruce, Jr. to know that we all mourn the passing of a talented young man. We recognize him as a beloved member of our South Florida community and extend our deepest condolences.

Whereas, Bruce, helped the Raiders win back-to-back state titles in high school, amassing more than 1,300 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. He later signed with the Hurricanes of the University of Miami to further his education in the state he loved.

Whereas, Sam Bruce became a giant in our community, we now honor his memory and the hard work and determination he stood for. As he demonstrated throughout his life, we all need to be more like him and wear our hearts on our shelves.

Madam Speaker, the America COMPETES Act of 2022 includes bold, smart, and strategic investments to power the success of America's workers, businesses, and economy based on bipartisan bills, many of which have already passed the House with bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, for generations, America's innovation, from electricity to automobiles, robotics, and plastics, has shaped the course of history. We prevail because of our early investments in science, research, and technology.

But today, America's preeminence is being challenged. Other countries have followed our lead in research, science, and technology. As a result, more of the technology that we are relying on today is made abroad, driving up the cost in the United States, contributing to inflation, threatening our workers' financial security and their jobs, and eroding our Nation's competitiveness.

The House's America COMPETES Act is precisely what is needed to ensure America's might in manufacturing and innovation while creating good-paying jobs and lowering costs for our Nation.

Our bill brings American manufacturing back to our shores, including $52 billion for chips, which are crucial for making cars, cell phones, and more.

Our bill will help reinvigorate America's industries, securing $45 billion to strengthen our supply chain and reduce dependence on foreign nations and lowering costs.

Our bill will invest in research and education so that we diversify our STEM workforce with apprenticeships.

Our bill will promote U.S. global leadership.

These are investments that all Americans need so desperately in order to obtain prosperity.

My colleagues and I look forward to swiftly going to conference with the Senate so we can put forth a strong bill that will help all Americans and put it on the President's desk to sign.

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize the recent freedom of Thomas Raynard James and the crucial work of his attorney, Natalie Figgers.

One of the most paramount pillars of our legal system is the concept that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. But how does the system react when even those who are innocent are deemed guilty? This Wednesday, the Nation was able to witness the legal system right one of these wrongs.

Thomas Raynard James was wrongfully convicted of murder and sentenced to life due to a case of mistaken identity in 1991. His preliminary conviction was based on an eyewitness account.

Three decades later, this wrongful conviction has been overturned based on revised testimony, new evidence, and lack of physical evidence. Due to persistence and faith in the legal system, Ms. Figgers succeeded in freeing Mr. James, who was an innocent man.

We applaud the work of his attorneys and all the leaders who continuously fight the good fight for justice to make sure that everyone has a chance at justice.

Madam Speaker, this week, I hosted a seniors' townhall in my district in which many had concerns about their access to long-term care, the price of prescription drugs, and their Social Security benefits.

Every day, 10,000 Americans turn 65 years old. That is 65 years of raising families, paying their taxes, protecting our country, and building our communities.

After six decades of working hard for this country, they have the right to the benefits and resources they have earned for retirement. We do not need to cut benefits but, instead, expand access to the full range of long-term care services that help seniors within their communities.

Unfortunately, it has become far too expensive for middle-class friends and families to care for our seniors. Prescription drug prices are a major component of the overall cost of caring for the elderly.

While Medicare part D pays for some medications for those enrolled in the plan, it is reported that over 65 percent of our seniors' prescription drug costs are out of pocket. No American should ever have to break the bank to pay for lifesaving care.

But today, too many Americans are forced to make the decision between paying their bills or buying their pills.

Democrats have been fighting to bring down healthcare costs and lower prescription drug prices by holding insurance companies and drug companies accountable while strengthening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

In his State of the Union Address, President Biden announced an initiative to improve quality long-term care for our Nation's beloved seniors and people with disabilities.

The announcement uplifts what I have long championed: every person in the United States deserves to age with dignity, respect, and access to quality healthcare.

These actions will be part of a long-overdue comprehensive reform to protect the welfare, safety, and rights of seniors and people with disabilities living in nursing homes.

Our country and our economy are stronger and healthier when every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare, and long-term care.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to make sure these issues are addressed and that we support and look out for our Nation's seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Florida's 20th Congressional District to recognize the necessary work of the National Infertility Association in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week. This week brings together millions of Americans who want to remove the stigma and the barriers that stand in the way of building families.

Mr. Speaker, one in eight couples have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining pregnancies, and many more people face barriers to building a family. Through national media, social media, and fundraising, the infertility community will take action to increase awareness of infertility in order to remove stigmas and improve access to healthy family-building options.

Mr. Speaker, I hope we do the same thing for infertility issues like we did for the Affordable Insulin Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to applaud President Joe Biden's executive order to bring down the cost of health insurance and expand health coverage. The executive order represents the most significant action to strengthen the Affordable Care Act since it was signed into law.

Consistent with the administration's mission, my colleagues and I in Congress voted in favor of the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which will lower costs for hardworking families by capping the out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 per month.

President Biden's executive order delivers a longstanding Democratic priority for strengthening the Affordable Care Act and fixing the so- called family glitch. Without this step, current regulations define employer-based health insurance as affordable if the coverage is provided solely for the employee and not for family members.

For family members of an employee offered health coverage through an employer, the cost for that family coverage can sometimes be very expensive and make health insurance out of reach. The family glitch affects 5 million people and has made it impossible for many families to use the premium tax credit to purchase an affordable, high-quality marketplace plan.

Fixing the family glitch builds on several steps Democrats have taken to lower health costs and build on the Affordable Care Act, including the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law last year. The American Rescue Plan is saving families an average of $2,400 in annual premiums and has helped enroll 14.5 million Americans in marketplace plans.

Thanks to Democratic leadership, healthcare is more affordable and accessible than ever. Our American Rescue Plan dramatically lowered the cost of marketplace plans and helped enroll millions of Floridians into quality, affordable coverage.

As House Democrats fight to build a better America for all people, I will continue to work to lower healthcare costs and prescription drug prices for all Floridian families.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to shed light on an imminent threat to our country's recent economic prosperity.

The Biden administration has created jobs and increased our Nation's GDP at unprecedented rates.

From day one, the President's economic agenda has been about generating more growth and more innovation by giving America's middle class more opportunities and more financial security.

However, oil companies are using the war between Russia and Ukraine as a pretext to engage in unlawful price gouging to rob American people of their hard-earned dollars.

I applaud my colleagues for taking the necessary steps to address this concern by facilitating oversight hearings to maintain the integrity of the oil industry and hold these companies accountable for their unconscionable practices.

Hopefully, these testimonies and hearings will lead to changes, and we can truly enjoy all the success of our current administration and keep dollars in the pockets of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to applaud the Democrats working with the Biden administration to achieve the best job creation record in United States history.

Together, we have created 7.9 million jobs and seen the largest decrease in unemployment in history. In March, the national unemployment rate fell to 3.6 faster than expected and reached the lowest level since February 2020.

The United States has now regained 93 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic. There have been particularly strong gains in the industries integral to addressing supply chain challenges, including manufacturing, construction, transportation, and warehousing.

Despite strong economic growth and wage gains, global price increases make it harder for U.S. workers and families to recover everyday expenses. The higher prices deprive households of the full benefits of the strongest wage growth seen in years.

Investing in children and families, workers, and small businesses, as the building a better America agenda does, would address the root causes of inflation and reduce some of the biggest expenses in our households.

While we are making great strides in ensuring a thriving economy, we must also remain committed to ensuring access to healthcare for all Americans. There is no wealth without good health.

While the Affordable Care Act has been critical in addressing the healthcare gap, we know Black and Brown and low-income families across this Nation are still disproportionately impacted by health disparities.

Allow me to share some daunting data to paint the seriousness of my concerns.

In 2018, approximately 21.5 percent of Hispanic adults over age 20 were diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 13 percent of White adults over the age of 20.

Hispanic women are 40 percent more likely to have cervical cancer and 20 percent more likely to die from cervical cancer than non-Hispanic White women.

There are 11 infant deaths per 1,000 live births among Black women. This is almost twice the national average.

Alleviating health disparities will require a deliberate and sustained effort to address socioeconomic determinants of health, such as poverty, segregation, and environmental degradation.

Furthermore, regarding mortality health, I plan to vote in favor of H.R. 1218, the Data Mapping to Save Moms' Lives Act. This legislation will use data mapping to show where high rates of poor maternal health outcomes overlap with the lack of access to broadband services to help identify where improved access to telehealth services can be most effective.

According to the CDC, severe complications related to pregnancy, known as severe maternal morbidity, impact over 50,000 women in the United States each year. Unfortunately, Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women.

In my own State, Florida ranks 32nd out of the 50 States in the U.S. in terms of the highest maternal mortality rates.

As we continue to create a more robust economy, we must also address health disparities in our Nation, which, in many cases, have led to countless premature deaths.

Madam Speaker, I rise to applaud my colleagues for passing the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which will lower costs for hardworking families by capping the out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 per month. This legislation is about putting the health of our citizens before profit.

Rising by 54 percent from 2014 to 2019, the cost of insulin has created an affordability crisis for the 9.8 percent of Floridians living with diabetes, which is roughly 2.8 million residents.

Nobody should be forced to choose between paying for rent and protecting their health. More than half of Americans have less than 3 months' worth of expenses covered in an emergency fund. That total includes one in four Americans who indicate having no emergency fund at all, up from 21 percent in 2020, let alone to have the ability to pay more than $300 for a single vial for those without adequate insurance.

While the Affordable Care Act has ensured access to healthcare for Americans, the cost of healthcare remains far too high.

This legislation will ensure that Floridians with diabetes pay no more than $35 for their lifesaving insulin each month. My constituents in Florida's 20th Congressional District feel the effects of rising out-of-pocket costs for their insulin. This bill provides them with appropriate relief at a time when families are struggling to make ends meet.

Americans currently face an average price of $98.70 for a unit of insulin; 10 times higher than in other wealthy nations. One in four Americans who rely on insulin have been forced to ration doses due to high prices, a last resort with potentially fatal consequences.

Uninsured people in the United States are disproportionately from Black, indigenous, and other communities of color. For those who do not qualify for Medicaid, high insulin prices can be devastating, forcing them to make impossible choices between covering different basic needs.

Unfortunately, throughout the United States, diabetes prevalence has increased over the past two decades, disproportionately affecting low- income populations. Even with health insurance, particularly high- deductible health plans, people can face exorbitant copays and fees that make their medicine unaffordable.

Once the Senate votes in favor of this bill, beginning in 2023, private health plans shall cover at least one of each type of dosage form of insulin and cap cost-sharing for a 30-day supply at the lesser of $35 or 25 percent of a plan's negotiated price.

Among individuals with private insurance, half would save at least $19 per month, and a quarter would save at least $42 per month. Individuals who buy their own insurance will experience the most savings.

This legislation comes as House Democrats continue working to advance comprehensive reform addressing the high cost of prescription drugs. I am committed to ensuring that we continue to protect the health of all Americans.

Madam Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this critical bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise to address the diabetes crisis in the United States and its effects on our Nation's children.

In 2018, about 210,000 of children and adolescents under the age of 20 were diagnosed with diabetes. As the numbers regarding childhood diabetes climb, more families are struggling to provide the medication their children need to survive.

The pressure of dealing with such a life-threatening illness at a young age is extreme and can leave lasting impacts on our youth, as their childhood is such a formative time. Statistics for their condition can seem bleak; diabetic children can expect a life expectancy to be shortened by up to 20 years due to their condition.

I thank my colleagues for passing the Affordable Insulin Now Act to address this issue in the United States.

Madam Speaker, as the conversation around the country centers on the legalization of marijuana, we must simultaneously address the criminal and racial justice issues embedded in this conversation.

Despite cannabis usage rates between White and non-Whites being similar, Black Americans are arrested for cannabis offenses at a rate of nearly four to one compared to Whites.

For decades, the war on drugs has been a tool to target Black and Brown Americans. As a result, their life trajectories have been impacted negatively.

The MORE Act would create a Community Reinvestment Grant Program, which would provide funding for communities negatively impacted by the war on drugs. These grants would be used for the development of expungement processes, employment programs, and substance use disorder treatment. These reinvestments are imperative for our communities and our country.

I am proud that I voted to pass the MORE Act today as an affirmative step toward the criminal justice reform.

Mr. Speaker, today I want to recognize the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County and Palm Beach County for over 100 years of combined service to their communities.

Over the past half a century, both clubs have grown and now serve more than 10,000 youth in 17 cities across Palm Beach County and over 12,500 youth at 12 locations across Broward County. Their work is critical for the success of the kids who need them most in our communities.

Each young person who walks through their doors can access programs that support their academic success, physical health, social-emotional well-being, and leadership development.

Most importantly, it is a safe place for kids to have fun, make lifelong friends, and to help build resiliency and the confidence that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

The Boys and Girls Clubs Movement challenges each and every one of us to fulfill our full potential. For more than 50 years, the Palm Beach County and Broward County clubs have done just that. I commend both organizations as they continue their essential work helping young people reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.

I rise today, Madam Speaker, to urge the Biden administration to end title 42 and allow Haitian migrants to request U.S. humanitarian refuge before an asylum officer or an immigration judge in compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act. As of yesterday, we saw more than 150 Haitian migrants land on our shores in Florida seeking asylum. For the last 6 months, we have seen more and more Haitian families risk their lives to come to our borders by sea or by foot.

The United States continues to use title 42, which has been said to be a violation of title 42 by the Federal appeals court as of Friday, which they said they can't stomach seeing people being deported without due process.

So, I rise today to ask for the administration to no longer use title 42 and to allow the Haitian immigrants to actually have due process and be able to articulate their need for critical fear.

I welcome the ruling by the Federal court of appeals this past Friday, which states that the Biden administration may not expel migrants.

Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following Proclamation.

Whereas, Sandra Morriseau, 53, passed away on February 18, 2022, after a courageous health battle.

Whereas, Sandra was born on the 22nd of May in 1968 to parents Joseph (who preceded her in death) and Marie-Carmel Louisias. Her birthplace as well as the setting of her childhood was Brooklyn, New York.

Whereas, she attended Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn. Shortly after, in 1989, Sandra moved to Miami Shores Florida with her parents and brother. While living in Miami, Sandra attended Barry University and pursued a degree in Nursing. She graduated and very quickly realized her calling was in the entertainment industry. She spent her life committed to uplifting Haitian culture in the Miami area and had a zest for life that shined through all the events she worked on and the friendships she nurtured within the community.

Whereas, through hard work and grace, Sandra accomplished many feats. Some of her accomplishments included becoming the first Island television employees, working at the Little Haiti Cultural Center, helping produce Sound of Little Haiti, and multiple other impressive acts.

Whereas, in 2003, she married Riquet Morriseau and they had two beautiful children, Samara and Matthew Morriseau. Sandra was a dedicated wife and mother. She treasured her two children and embraced every moment with them.

Whereas, she was a loving and compassionate person who loved to go above and beyond in everything that she did. All her actions were committed with elegance and class. Those who knew her will remember Sandra for being a perfectionist, loving, and a caring daughter, sister, and friend.

Whereas, let us strive to honor her memory by pursuing our passions and living a full life as she would have wanted us to.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to represent every person of African descent across this country and in Florida's 20th Congressional District with natural hair.

I call on my colleagues from the U.S. Senate to pass the CROWN Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of hair texture or hairstyle that is commonly associated with a particular race or national origin.

Lawsuits initiated by Black workers alleging discrimination against their natural hair in the workplace have filled courthouses for more than 40 years. This legislation will provide us with the freedom to wear our crowns without discrimination.

We must understand that hair discrimination is rooted in systemic racism. Anti-Black hair sentiment on U.S. soil has existed for centuries.

As Members of Congress, we have a legal and ethical obligation to push back against the Eurocentric beauty perpetuated across TV and in the media.

Hair discrimination is race discrimination. Unfortunately, some employers discriminate against people of African descent who wear natural hair even though the employment policies involved are not related to workers' ability to perform the job.

The notion that some of these policies are race-neutral policies and, therefore, not covered under the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which outlaws discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion, and national origin, is absurd and lacks merit.

As a mother of African-American children, I want our beautiful daughters and sons in my district to feel comfortable in their skin without retaliation. Sadly, Black students are three to six times more likely to be suspended or expelled from school.

Today, there remain regressive movements that continue to criminalize natural Black hairstyles under the auspices of preparing them for the real world.

We must, instead, teach our children to embrace their natural beauty and understand that their humanity is not tied to their hair.

To the organizations that have consistently advocated for the passage of this critical piece of legislation, we thank you for your commitment.