Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, all of us are concerned about the bullying of Communist China. I hope as we move forward, this committee that has been voted on will emphasize the bullying, but it will not emphasize the negativism that occurred during COVID with ``Kung Flu'' and dealing with the intimidation and the increase of Asian hatred and violence.

That is why some of us were concerned enough not to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, let me also say that in addition to wanting us to do better, I am excited about introducing the Battle Buddy Check legislation that has our veterans check on each other, just as if they are on the battlefield, to stop the rise of veteran suicide.

Have a battle buddy. This legislation is hopefully to save lives of our soldiers who are now veterans who have done all that they could for America.

Mr. Speaker, I am excited about the introduction of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Congressional Gold Medal.

Lyndon Baines Johnson will be looked upon as one of the greatest Presidents, giving opportunity to those who never had it in education and healthcare and the environment and criminal justice reform and the right to vote and civil rights.

I ask my colleagues to join me in the Congressional Gold Medal for Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rules and the rules package.

In particular, I support the Women's Health Protection Act so women seeking reproductive rights will not be hunted down by bounty hunters.

As well, I am opposed to this rule because of the creation of a potential committee that, in fact, threatens our safety, security, and freedom. It is an unprecedented attack on our Nation's law enforcement agencies, our justice system, and our intelligence community, all for the extreme MAGA Republican political activities.

This does nothing to solve the actual problems facing the American people and even includes a possibility of defunding police.

Finally, I am glad that the last Congress indicated that when a million Americans died, for continuity of government, we had proxy voting. They wanted to save lives.

Mr. Speaker, I oppose the underlying rules and the rules package. I ask my colleagues to join me in voting ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H. Res. 5, Adopting the Rules of the 118th Congress. Instead of building on the extraordinary work done by House Democrats in the 117th Congress, Republicans are choosing to lead off this term with legislation that attacks women's health freedoms, make it easier for companies to pollute without consequence, and hand out tax breaks to the wealthy and well connected.

This problematic Rules package is the product of non-transparent negotiations, backroom deals and promises that were made to appease the demands made by extremist members of the Republican Party to get them to vote or in some cases vote present for Speaker of the House.

Last week's catastrophic Speaker's election showed Americans how disorganized, chaotic, and inefficient the Republican leadership and Caucus can be.

Last week's chaos showed the American people how Republicans plan to govern for the next two years. This body will be ill managed, less transparent, slow moving, and will put forth legislation that will attack our freedoms and undermine our Nation's values.

Concessions made by Republican leadership last week will have devastating effects on this institution. The passage of this Rules package will pave the way for:

Any member to file a ``motion to vacate the chair,'' effectively holding the Speaker hostage;

Extreme right-wing members on key committees;

Putting an end to the possibility of Congressional staff unionization;

Reinstating the Holman Rules so Republicans can target civil servants who challenge them; and

Shut down criminal investigations into the previous president.

This problematic rule is creating more turmoil in the Republican ranks as members wrestle with the image of witnessing the Speaker being coerced into agreeing to give a small faction of the Republican Conference treats to appease them--including concessions to individual members for votes he needed to become Speaker.

It is not inconceivable that Republican members of the conference must show they are not being bullied into voting for this Rules bill.

The most problematic aspect of the rule is that it does not spell out what the Speaker agreed to give to his opponents so that the Congress and the American people know what the Speakership actually cost them.

This is the People's House--not the Republican or Democratic House-- any bargaining should be focused on the needs of the American people-- they must come first.

Throughout the last election cycle, Republicans campaigned on addressing inflation and lowering the cost of living for millions of Americans.

Ironically, the first bill they are introducing repays the wealthy donors that got them their majority through dark money contributions by making it easier for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans to cheat on their taxes.

We all may have varying beliefs about taxes, but we as Americans know that nothing in this life is free and that in order for our Nation to be a beacon of freedom we must have a strong defense, public assistance programs to help those in need, an education system that prepares young minds to lead, retirement programs that provided for our elder and disabled, and a healthcare system that cares for all in need of healthcare.

Passage of the rule will pave the way for Republicans to continue their assault on a woman's bodily autonomy and impede on medical decisions that should remain between medical professionals and their patient.

Although the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act does not criminalize abortion nationwide, make no mistake, that is their end goal, and the passage of this bill will get them one step closer to their sick idea of stripping all women of their rights.

There are concerns that language in the House Rules package would eliminate rules requiring spending offsets for bills that sell or transfer federal public lands and waters.

This will result in a loss of public access enjoyed by the 70 million American hunters and anglers that help support the $862 billion outdoor recreation economy in the United States. Additionally, giving away public assets with no return would be a loss for American taxpayers.

As a result, hunters and anglers are strongly opposed to this rule change, which would eliminate the necessity of spending offsets to sell or transfer public lands.

I urge all my colleagues to oppose this bill and see it for what it truly is:

An effort by Republicans to give tax breaks to the ultra-rich and the corporations who fund their campaigns, and

An effort to continue carrying out their distorted notion of America by decimating the programs set in place to help the Americans who depend on government assistance the most.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H. Res. 5, Adopting the Rules of the 118th Congress. Instead of building on the extraordinary work done by House Democrats in the 117th Congress, Republicans are choosing to lead off this term with legislation that attacks women's health freedoms, make it easier for companies to pollute without consequence, and hand out tax breaks to the wealthy and well connected.

This problematic Rules package is the product of non-transparent negotiations, backroom deals and promises that were made to appease the demands made by extremist members of the Republican Party to get them to vote or in some cases vote present for Speaker of the House.

Last week's catastrophic Speaker's election showed Americans how disorganized, chaotic, and inefficient the Republican leadership and Caucus can be.

Last week's chaos showed the American people how Republicans plan to govern for the next two years. This body will be ill managed, less transparent, slow moving, and will put forth legislation that will attack our freedoms and undermine our Nation's values.

Concessions made by Republican leadership last week will have devastating effects on this institution. The passage of this Rules package will pave the way for:

Any member to file a ``motion to vacate the chair,'' effectively holding the Speaker hostage;

Extreme right-wing members on key committees;

Putting an end to the possibility of Congressional staff unionization;

Reinstating the Holman Rules so Republicans can target civil servants who challenge them; and

Shut down criminal investigations into the previous president.

This problematic Rule is creating more turmoil in the Republican ranks as members wrestle with the image of witnessing the Speaker being coerced into agreeing to give a small faction of the Republican Caucus treats to appease them--including concessions to individual members for votes he needed to become Speaker.

It is not inconceivable that Republican members of the delegation must show they are not being bullied into voting for this Rules Bill.

The most problematic aspect of the Rule is that it does not spell out what the Speaker agreed to give to his opponents so that the Congress and the American people know what the Speakership actually cost them.

This is the People's House--not the Republican or Democratic House any bargaining should be focused on the needs of the American people-- they must come first.

Throughout the last election cycle, Republicans campaigned on addressing inflation and lowering the cost of living for millions of Americans.

Ironically, the first bill they are introducing repays the wealthy donors that got them their majority through dark money contributions by making it easier for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans to cheat on their taxes.

We all may have varying beliefs about taxes, but we as Americans know that nothing in this life is free and that in order for our Nation to be a beacon of freedom we must have a strong defense, public assistance programs to help those in need, an education system that prepares young minds to lead, retirement programs that provided for our elder and disabled, and a healthcare system that cares for all in need of healthcare.

Passage of the rule will pave the way for Republicans to continue their assault on a woman's bodily autonomy and impede on medical decisions that should remain between medical professionals and their patient.

Although the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act does not criminalize abortion nationwide, make no mistake, that is their end goal, and the passage of this bill will get them one step closer to their sick idea of stripping all women of their rights.

There are concerns that language in the House Rules Package would eliminate rules requiring spending offsets for bills that sell or transfer federal public lands and waters.

This will result in a loss of public access enjoyed by the 70 million American hunters and anglers that help support the $862 billion outdoor recreation economy in the United States. Additionally, giving away public assets with no return would be a loss for American taxpayers.

As a result, hunters and anglers are strongly opposed to this rule change, which would eliminate the necessity of spending offsets to sell or transfer public lands.

I urge all my colleagues to oppose this bill and see it for what it truly is:

an effort by Republicans to give tax breaks to the ultra-rich and the corporations who fund their campaigns, and

an effort to continue carrying out their distorted notion of America by decimating the programs set in place to help the Americans who depend on government assistance the most.

The text of the material previously referred to by Mr. McGovern is as follows:

At the end of the resolution, add the following new

section:

Mr. Speaker, let me rename this legislation to the billionaire tax cheats happy days are here again because that is simply what this bill is about.

I know my constituents are in one of the difficult districts in the Nation, and I realize that small businesses in my district, those who are getting earned income tax credit, they want refunds. They can't get them if the phones are not being answered and there are not enough staff to help them get the refunds that will help them propel their small business into the next year.

Then, of course, Mr. Speaker, what about the lady who was trying to close a real estate deal, and there was no one at the office? That created a $68,000 tax burden because the tax office was not available to assist.

We need to provide those workers to help Americans, not to create tax cheats.

This legislation is deserving of opposition because we as Democrats are trying to make the IRS work for working families, get their refunds, get their dollars, help them propel into the next year, and be better for the moneys that they deserve to get back.

Vote ``no'' on the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 23, the Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act. This bill would rescind $72 billion of the $79.6 billion appropriated to the Internal Revenue Service to refine its services and technology and reform its enforcement practices of the federal tax code. The passage of H.R. 23 would widen the already massive tax gap and unfairly relieve the wealthiest 1% of Americans from paying their fair share of taxes.

The historic passage of the Inflation Reeducation Act under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and signed by President Biden authorized $79.6 billion to allow the Internal Revenue Service to bolster taxpayer services while firmly and fairly enforcing the federal tax code.

Through the implementation of the IRA, we continue to help the millions of Americans who most depend on federal government assistance and who contribute disproportionately to the federal revenues that pay for our government to operate.

$45.6 billion of the authorized funds included in the Inflation Reduction Act were allocated for tax enforcement activities, including hiring more enforcement agents, providing legal support, and investing in investigating technologies.

These funds are necessary to bridge the unjust tax gap that Americans have been subject to for generations and will continue to endure under Republican leadership.

The entirety of the $79.6 billion is critical to cracking down on ultra-rich and corporate tax evaders who have avoided paying their fair share of taxes for years.

The passage of this bill would dismantle key components of the Inflation Reduction Act that have injected fairness into the enforcement of our tax system.

The IRA reduced rising costs for hardworking middle-class and working class families and ensured that taxpayers are not left to foot the bill for ealthy tax cheats--both of which would be erased with the passage of this bill.

These unfair tax practices have gone on for far too long.

I urge all my colleagues to oppose this bill and see it for what it truly is:

an effort by Republicans to give tax breaks to the ultra-rich and the corporations who fund their campaigns, and

an effort to continue carrying out their distorted notion of America by decimating the programs set in place to help the Americans who depend on government assistance the most.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 23, the Family and

Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act. This bill would rescind $72 billion of the $79.6 billion appropriated to the Internal Revenue Service to refine its services and technology and reform its enforcement practices of the federal tax code. The passage of H.R. 23 would widen the already massive tax gap and unfairly relieve the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans from paying their fair share of taxes.

The historic passage of the Inflation Reeducation Act under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi and signed by President Biden authorized $79.6 billion to allow the Internal Revenue Service to bolster taxpayer services while firmly and fairly enforcing the federal tax code.

Through the implementation of the IRA, we continue to help the millions of Americans who most depend on federal government assistance and who contribute disproportionately to the federal revenues that pay for our government to operate.

Simply put, Americans who have the least should not be burdened with the responsibility to contribute the most. Every American--most importantly, the wealthiest among us--must pay what they rightfully owe to enable our government to function.

$45.6 billion of the authorized funds included in the Inflation Reduction Act were allocated for tax enforcement activities, including hiring more enforcement agents, providing legal support, and investing in investigating technologies.

These funds are necessary to bridge the unjust tax gap that Americans have been subject to for generations and will continue to endure under Republican leadership.

The entirety of the $79.6 billion is critical to cracking down on ultra-rich and corporate tax evaders who have avoided paying their fair share of taxes for years.

The passage of this bill would dismantle key components of the Inflation Reduction Act that have injected fairness into the enforcement of our tax system.

The IRA reduced rising costs for hardworking middle-class families and ensured that taxpayers are not left to foot the bill for wealthy tax cheats--both of which would be erased with the passage of this bill.

These unfair tax practices have gone on for far too long.

I urge all my colleagues to oppose this bill and see it for what it truly is:

an effort by Republicans to give tax breaks to the ultra-rich and the corporations who fund their campaigns, and

an effort to continue carrying out their distorted notion of America by decimating the programs set in place to help the Americans who depend on government assistance the most.

Mr. Speaker, it has been 38 years, and I rise with enthusiasm on reintroducing H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act.

I am pleased to reintroduce this legislation and to acknowledge to my friends and colleagues that it was first introduced in 1989 after the implementation of the American Civil Liberties Act that provided compensation to Japanese Americans.

H.R. 40 does not focus on all of that only. It focuses on the study of slavery and the understanding of what would be the next steps to end the vast disparities in the African-American community even today in 2023. And so this introduction allows for a study, an analysis, and action.

I am pleased with the more than 350 organizations, CEOs, scholars, State and local officials, and Members of Congress who have been supportive in understanding the era of slavery in this country.

The 13th amendment may have ended slavery, but the disparities exist.

Let us pass H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to re-introduce H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans Act. This legislation was first introduced by retired Member of Congress John Conyers of Michigan in 1989 and was intended to examine the institution of slavery in the colonies and the United States from 1619 to the present, and further recommend appropriate remedies.

Since the initial introduction of this legislation, its proponents have made substantial progress in elevating the discussion of reparations and reparatory justice at the national level and joining the mainstream international debate on the issues. Though some have tried to deflect the importance of these conversations by focusing on individual monetary compensation, the real issue is whether and how this nation can come to grips with the legacy of slavery that still infects current society. Through legislation, resolutions, news, and litigation, we are moving closer to making more strides in the movement toward reparations.

Today there are more people at the table--more activists, more scholars, more CEOs, more state and local officials, and more Members of Congress. However, despite this progress and the election of the first American President of African descent, the legacy of slavery lingers heavily in this nation. While we have focused on the societal effects of slavery and segregation, its continuing economic implications remain largely ignored by mainstream analysis. These economic issues are the root cause of many critical issues in the African American community today, such as education, healthcare and criminal justice policy, including policing practices. The call for reparations represents a commitment to entering a constructive dialogue on the role of slavery and racism in shaping present-day conditions in our community and American society.

Over the last several years, we have had a distinguished academic and activist panel from the National African American Reparations Commission dive into some of the most salient points in the discussion of reparations. I am supporting this effort by continuing to hold the annual reparations retrospective at the Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus.

I believe that H.R. 40 is a crucial piece of legislation because it goes beyond exploring the economic implications of slavery and segregation. It is a holistic bill in the sense that it seeks to establish a commission to also examine the moral and social implications of slavery. In short, the Commission aims to study the impact of slavery and continuing discrimination against African Americans, resulting directly and indirectly from slavery to segregation to the desegregation process and the present day. The commission would also make recommendations concerning any form of apology and compensation to begin the long-delayed process of atonement for slavery.

With the over criminalization and policing of black bodies, a reoccurring issue in African American communities, I believe this conversation is both relevant and crucial to restoring trust in governmental institutions in many communities. As in years past, I welcome open and constructive discourse on H.R. 40 and the creation of this commission in the 118th Congress. Though the times and circumstance may change, the principal problem of slavery continues to weigh heavily on this country. A federal commission can help us reach into this dark past and bring us into a brighter future.

Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Budget, Judiciary, and on Homeland Security, I rise in support of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1437 ``Further Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2023'', a resolution that provides funding to continue the operations of the federal government through December 23, 2022, and avoids a wasteful and irresponsible shutdown.

Passage of this resolution will avoid an inexcusable and unjustifiable government shutdown that would disrupt the lives of millions of Americans who rely on the resources and support provided by the federal government.

If this resolution does not pass:

Millions of veterans will lose their healthcare benefits.

People relying on Social Security will not receive their checks.

Millions of government employees will lose their wages.

Millions of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries would lose access to visits and other medical needs.

Food Stamps will not be sent out, leaving millions of Americans who rely on them at risk of hunger.

Health insurance coverage to millions of children through the CHIP program will stop.

All projects created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will pause, and national parks and Smithsonian museums will close.

In addition to these programs, House Democrats have worked tirelessly throughout the 117th Congress to pass legislation that will better the lives of Americans, legislation that has established programs that would also be impacted by a government shutdown.

Our legislative agenda this Congress focused on lowering the price of health care and prescription drug costs, creating better paying jobs, acting on the climate crisis and making communities safer.

For example, in this Congress the House has passed and sent to the President the following legislation that has been signed into law:

H.R. 5376--Inflation Reduction Act of 2022

This historic piece of legislation lowered health care and prescription drug costs for millions. It forces Big Pharma to negotiate lower prices, caps the cost of drugs and insulin for seniors on Medicare, and locks in lower health insurance premiums that will save 13 million Americans an average of $800 a year. And the Inflation Reduction Act's clean energy provisions will make clean, secure American energy more affordable.

H.R. 1319--American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

This law helped pull the economy out of the pandemic. It put vaccines in arms, money in pockets, and reopened the American economy.

H.R. 3684--Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

This law enacted a historic investment to rebuild our roads and bridges and bring clean water and high-speed internet to more communities and created millions of union jobs.

S. 2938--Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

The enactment of this bill expands background checks for the purchase of firearms, add increased protections for victims of domestic violence, and fund violence prevention in schools and stronger mental health services to stop tragedies like mass shootings before they happen.

House Democrats have also made strides to bettering American life through legislation that has yet to see action in the Senate. These include:

H.R. 1, For The People Act

This comprehensive legislation would promote government transparency, strengthen access to the ballot box and make it easier for Americans to exercise their right to vote, secure election infrastructure, and curb the influence of dark money in politics.

H.R. 6, Dream and Promise Act

The Dream and Promise Act would protect Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status holders from deportation and provide an opportunity to obtain permanent legal status that would enable these groups to work legally within the United States and continue to contribute to their local communities and economy.

H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act

This bill would strengthen labor protections around equal pay by prohibiting the use of salary history to set compensation, provide more transparent options for joining class-action lawsuits challenging systemic discrimination, and require employers to show that gender pay gaps are job-related and consistent with business need.

H.R. 842, Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act

This bill aims to strengthen labor protections for union workers through overriding Republican-led ``right to work'' laws, promoting free and fair union elections, and holding companies that attempt to restrict union activity accountable.

Mr Speaker, with your leadership, House Democrats have passed historic pieces of legislation that will benefit Americans for years to come, but our work is not done.

If we fail to pass this Resolution, the new programs that we have enacted into law during the 117th Congress, as well as all the other services and programs of the federal government will be shut down and American people in every corner of the country will suffer needlessly and severely.

As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to ensure that the government continues its operations so that Americans may continue to receive the resources services provided by the federal government passed December 16, 2022.

I strongly support this legislation and urge all Members to join me in voting for the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1437 ``Further Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2023.''

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1948, the VA Employee Fairness Act of 2021. Throughout my career in Congress, I have always supported our veterans as well as those at the VA who serve, assist, and treat our veterans, especially those who have health care needs, so that they can optimally enjoy their post-service life.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8393-- Puerto Rico Status Act, to provide a plebiscite to be held on November 5th, 2023, to resolve Puerto Rico's political status.

Throughout my decades of service in Congress, I have been an ardent and consistent supporter of the Puerto Rican peoples' right to self- determination.

I have stood alongside our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters on many legislative efforts that would empower them to choose the governance status of their preference, as is their right, both as American citizens and in accordance with their basic human rights.

The population of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is 3.19 million.

Puerto Ricans are the largest group of U.S. citizens with Hispanic heritage, and yet, are treated with only 2nd-class citizenship.

In fact, Puerto Ricans have been the largest body of U.S. citizens which do not enjoy the privileges usually accorded to citizenship, including voting representation in Congress and the right to vote in Presidential elections.

It is a widely held belief in Puerto Rico that the residents of the Commonwealth should be empowered to decide their own political status. The Commonwealth's status is an internal matter among the people of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico has hosted 6 referendums on the topic of statehood, with the most recent being in November 2020. The results of that referendum were that 52.5 percent of the electorate voted for statehood.

It is obvious that the people of Puerto Rico want to change the way they are represented in their own governance and that of the United States Government.

During the referendum in 2012, 54 percent of voters agreed that they did not want to maintain their current method of governance.

The majority of those that did not want to maintain the status quo chose statehood as the alternative that they preferred.

While many of these referendums have been held and have told us what the people of Puerto Rico think, nothing has materialized as a result.

This is why it is essential that Congress allow a plebiscite to Puerto Rico to resolve it's political status.

Voters in Puerto Rico should be provided with the opportunity to choose independence, sovereignty in free association with the United States, or statehood.

It is imperative that this voting process be fair and free of any disinformation, propaganda, or wrongdoing.

All voters should be provided with voting materials in both English and Spanish, and all voting campaigns should be dedicated to providing voters with educational materials related to the plebiscites and potential outcomes.

The Puerto Rico State Elections Commission shall ensure that any educational campaigns are non-partisan in nature and provide voters with accurate information that allow them to vote according to their best interests.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 8393--Puerto Rico Status Act, so that the Commonwealth can decide what is best for its people.

All Americans deserve representation, and this bill provides Puerto Ricans the right to make that decision for themselves.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1156, expressing the commitment of the House of Representatives to building on the 20 years of success of the George McGovern-Robert Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.

The McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program helps support education, child development and food security in low-income, food-deficit countries around the globe.

In 2017, there were 821 million people worldwide experiencing hunger. That is 1 in every 9 people.

Sixty-six million children are experiencing hunger worldwide every day. One in 6 children are food insecure.

According to UNICEF, approximately 3.1 million children globally die from undernutrition every year. It is estimated that every 10 seconds a child around the globe dies from hunger.

Even in the United States, hunger and food insecurity are major problems. In my home of Houston, almost 725,000 people experience food insecurity, which amounts to about 23 percent of Houston's households.

More than 500,000 Houstonians live in food deserts. These food deserts are found mostly in areas with limited transportation, lack of aid, and high unemployment rates.

Hunger is also tragic because it reflects economic and social inequity. In Houston, for example, food deserts are more likely to occur in primarily Black communities.

Lack of food doesn't just impact a child's hunger levels. Food insecurity stunts a child's growth and development and often children fall behind in school because they are unable to focus while experiencing hunger.

Children who experience food insecurity grow into adults with health complications that emerged from the lack of food.

As former Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus I worked to improve the lives of children not only in the United States, but globally because the children are the future, and we must do everything possible to protect them.

Global food insecurity is of great importance to me because, not only am I a longtime Member of the House Hunger Caucus, I represent the same Congressional District that had been represented by iconic leaders who fought to end hunger in the U.S. and globally.

I am proud to continue the historic legacy of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, who was a champion for human dignity and fought for the rights of all people regardless of race, gender, heritage, or economic status, and Congressman Mickey Leland, who worked tirelessly to raise awareness of, and fight for, policies to end food insecurity around the globe and who, tragically, died in a plane crash while working to end world hunger on a relief mission in Ethiopia.

Starvation is a terrible thing. It's something that nobody should have to go through. And yet, there are people in this world who are starving right now as a consequence of natural disasters, war, and even as a tool of warfare.

In Pakistan, food deprivation is compounded by the human toll from recent floods and other natural disasters. Using drought to strategically exacerbate starvation is unacceptable.

The people of Ethiopia's Tigre Province are being subjected to a truly vile and malicious use of food deprivation in this way. The region was already suffering from drought, and when compounded by forced starvation from denial of access to food as a weapon of war, the effect is heinous and the consequences are unforgiveable.

Russia's aggression against Ukraine is a global food insecurity tragedy on multiple levels. As Putin wages his war against the people of Ukraine, he uses food as a weapon by destroying the food production and transportation capacity of the country he invaded. At the same time, since Ukraine grows grains and crops that feed much of the world, Putin's devastation of Ukraine's food production infrastructure and takeovers of Ukrainian food exports cause food insecure populations of countless countries to suffer, especially in Africa.

The McGovern-Dole program also aims to defeat malnutrition. Children across the globe are affected by malnutrition and the McGovern Dole program is working to combat this debilitating condition.

The McGovern-Dole Program has been successful at saving lives all over the world for 20 years.

This program boosts school enrollment, increases attendance, and improves reading outcomes and literacy results through providing school meals, teacher training, and government capacity-building.

The McGovern-Dole Program has been able to improve health, nutrition, and dietary practices through supporting Maternal and Child Nutrition (MCN). The program encourages the inclusion of health and nutrition sensitive activities, such as micronutrient-fortified products, take- home rations, treatments for illnesses, and nutrition education.

H. Res. 1156 must be passed. With bipartisan Congressional support, the United States has been able to work with other countries on hunger, specifically childhood hunger, which is a devastating condition.

It is imperative that we continue to work together to reduce hunger worldwide.

We must end this unnecessary suffering before it claims even more lives.

This bill must be important to us all. Investing in children today will only benefit the world in the future.

We must continue this program to address global food insecurity and create conditions for peace and stability.

This effort will support U.S. farmers, millers, shippers, and commodity groups that provide agricultural commodities for the program to help combat malnutrition and food insecurity worldwide.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical bill that will build upon the 20 years of success of the George McGovern- Robert Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 198, Data Mapping to Save Moms' Lives Act, to require the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps.

Worldwide pregnant mothers experience health outcomes such as hypertension, preeclampsia, extreme nausea, and even maternal mortality. These health conditions impact the experiences of pregnant women, but for many women poor health outcomes don't end after pregnancy.

In Texas, there are 14 deaths per 100,000 live births, but where are these deaths occurring? Is there a common theme in maternal mortality in the state that could be mapped in order to study the issue further?

In the United States much of this data is tracked, but it is not mapped, which would assist in understanding which health outcomes are common in certain counties, states, and as a country.

The Mapping Broadband Health in America platform, which is operated by the FCC, allows users to visualize, overlay and analyze broadband and health data at the national, state and county levels.

The maps are an interactive experience, enabling detailed study of the intersection between connectivity and health for every county in the United States.

The resulting maps can be used by both public and private sectors, and local communities, to identify opportunities and gaps in connectivity and care.

It can help inform policy decisions, facilitate interagency coordination, encourage public/private partnerships and investment, and drive innovation, directing resources to areas with overlapping broadband and health needs.

In an effort to improve maternal health in the United States, we must be able to study the issue across the country on a county, state, and country wide level.

In 2020, 861 women died of maternal causes in the United States.

That's 861 women who planned on living full, healthy lives and planned on being parents to the children they carried for 9 long months.

That's 861 children who must grow up without their parent.

That's 861 families that are forever altered.

That's a medical system and society that has failed 861 women.

These numbers are heart breaking. With all the advances in technology and improvements in our healthcare system, health outcomes continuously get worse for women.

With the help of data mapping, researchers would have the opportunity to visualize the areas where maternal mortality is most prevalent in an effort to lower maternal mortality rates.

Data mapping would show the health outcomes that are common among expecting mothers on local, state, and country wide levels.

This would allow legislators to make policy decisions based on health outcomes. Also, medical professionals could seek treatments that improve the health outcomes of expecting mothers, and women could see where health outcomes are best for expecting mothers.

Women's health is an issue that is very near to my heart. With reproductive rights being stripped from us, maternal mortality at an all-time high, and violence against women that has surged since the pandemic started, there is growing concern that women's health will continue to suffer on a massive scale.

We must take action to protect not only ourselves, but also future generations of women who deserve the right to high quality medical care.

S. 198, Data Mapping to Save Moms' Lives Act, is important because it would accelerate improvements in the health of moms in the United States. This bill directly impacts the health of women and their families.

I know that this bill is important to my constituents in Houston. Improving the birthing experience for these women is a top priority to me.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical bill that will direct the FCC to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman of the House Administration Committee for her leadership. I also thank our resident historian, Congressman Hoyer of Maryland, for constantly reminding us of the better virtues of our history.

To my dear friend as well, a Congressman who was eloquent on the floor of his age but also his recognition of the importance of this legislation, I thank him for the bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, let me acknowledge my friends that have supported this legislation, including Joyce Beatty, Karen Bass, now mayor of Los Angeles, Barbara Lee, Jim Clyburn, and my cosponsorship as well, because we knew what was important and what had to be done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support S. 5229, that is a downsizing of the House bill to direct the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to remove the bust of Roger Brook Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the Capitol and to obtain a bust of Thurgood Marshall for installation in the Capitol or on the Capitol grounds and to be able to lift America up.

It is important to lift America up to her better angels in the understanding of the richness of our history. Those of us who are African Americans came first in the bottom of the belly of a slave boat. We have never had that acknowledged. But it was acknowledged in the Dred Scott decision when it was affirmed with this effort of Roger Brook Taney to say that we were less than a person, that it was all right to make those who were slaves not a human being; that our children were raised under that, and our grandchildren were raised under that.

I remind people that slaves were so long in slavery that they were born slaves, lived as slaves, and died as

slaves, which brings me to the importance of H.R. 40, the Commission to Study Slavery and Develop Reparation Proposals. We must get our hands around this issue of slavery and not be afraid of it.

The very fact that the bust will be removed, again, in the words that were said by my colleague, it will get rid of the horribleness of what happened, the outrage of what happened.

I believe the placing of Justice Thurgood Marshall's bust will be a grand step forward, a mighty step forward.

It is absurd. It is horrible. It is without understanding.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support it.

As well, if I might, I want to raise S. 2607, the Tom Suozzi bill, Iran Hostages Congressional Gold Medal Act, and say that it is long overdue.

I met with the hostages' family members who had lived through this tyranny and had lived through it for many days, 53 hostages, which occurred on November 4, 1979. As I recall, they were held for over a year. There were many attempts to free them.

Mr. Speaker, they remained heroes and patriots, and I believe this is the minimum that we can do to give to those hurting families still, those children that I met, those grandchildren that I met that wondered what happened to their families.

Here we, as a Nation, will recognize that time of their lives when they never gave in to tyranny and never gave up their belief in the values of this Nation.

Again, we remind ourselves that democracy is precious, and it is not free. We must fight for it at every turn. Those who were held hostages as American citizens fought at every turn.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support S. 2607, as well as S. 5229. They both represent the best of what America is, and they both represent telling our story, our history, and honoring it. This is a great democracy, and we must show it every day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 7., the ``VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022,'' that would ensure Native Hawaiian victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sex trafficking, and other such crimes have access to vital VAWA resources.

When the Violence Against Women Act first became law in 1994, it represented an historic shift in the federal government's role in combating violent crimes committed against

women. Due to the importance of the legislation and its resulting success, VAWA was reauthorized on an overwhelming bipartisan basis in 2000, 2005, and 2013.

As we negotiated the most recent reauthorization, I was adamant that Congress acknowledge the cries of the multitude of voiceless native women. That we should do more to improve coordination and communication between law enforcement agencies, empower tribal governments with resources, and improve the way we collect data about missing and murdered native women.

And although each piece of VAWA is critical to support and protect victims of violence, I thought it necessary to pay special attention to the plight of tribal women, who suffer extraordinarily high rates of victimization.

That is why we must pass the ``VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022''--to make sure that Native Hawaiian victims and survivors are supported and protected.

The VAWA Reauthorization--which made its way to the President's desk this year--made several improvements to the Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors (STOP) grant program.

The STOP grant program was established to assist state, territorial, local, and Tribal governments in responding to violent crimes against women, including the crimes of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, as well as the appropriate treatment of victims.

The grants have long been used to develop effective strategies to assist victims and survivors through nonprofit, community organizations.

Eligibility for the grants was expanded under the reauthorization for individuals and grantees, and the authorized uses of grants under the expansion now include supportive services for American Indian victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Unfortunately, due to a drafting error, Native Hawaiian organizations have been unable to access STOP grant funds for the benefit of Native Hawaiian women, thereby denying an entire community of victims and survivors restorative, stabilizing care. This is a serious problem with an uncomplicated solution.

S. 7 would amend relevant statutory provisions to make sure Native Hawaiian organizations can render aid to their communities using STOP grant funding.

As has always been true, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization is comprehensive and inclusive legislation that responds to the many varied and changing needs of diverse victims and survivors across the country by making meaningful improvements. This bill exemplifies that sentiment.

I applaud Senator Mazie Hirono for spearheading this bill to ensure that no victim or survivor is denied access to VAWA's life-saving resources, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman from the Committee on the Judiciary, the gentleman from New York, and the manager who is joining us on these bipartisan bills, which many of them had their origins in the House. I am delighted that the Senate was able to join us. These bills come under the Senate name because of the fact that we are working with the Senate on many of these similar bills in order to have them become law, because they are important.

I rise now to support S. 2991, the Countering Human Trafficking Act. I thank the Senator from Michigan who offered this legislation, and it deals with making the Center for Countering Human Trafficking permanent and requires other changes to strengthen the center's contribution for the fight against human trafficking.

Let me be very clear on the floor. Human trafficking is an epidemic. It is a pandemic. It is a scourge on the fabric of America. Human trafficking is one of the greatest threats to human rights in the United States. In 2020, 11,190 instances of potential human trafficking were reported to the United States National Human Trafficking Hotline, with at least 70 percent of these instances involving sex trafficking.

The one thing about sex trafficking, it is more profitable than drugs, because you utilize, unfortunately, the tragic human being who has been made part of the bounty of your profit and recycle them over and over again, and they are young girls and boys in many instances.

I will continue to advance and support legislation, like the bill before us today, as well as programming aimed at preventing human trafficking, protecting victims and survivors, as an estimated 25 percent of human trafficking victims are reportedly in my home State of Texas at any given time, many of whom are minors.

In our State of Texas, we have developed strong advocacy groups that fight against human trafficking and even have done something innovative, which means that we have called our sports arenas No Trafficking Zones.

So I rise to support this legislation with over 5,359 trafficking victims and survivors identified through the hotline in 2019.

I introduced H.R. 7566, the Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones Act, now known as the No Trafficking Zones Act. I pronounce today on the floor, this bill must pass. We must have the Senate agree to this bill so this can be a complement to the bill that we now have on the floor. We have done hard work. We have worked with the Senate. We want to make sure we get this bill passed.

I rise also to support the bill previously discussed, the VAWA Technical Amendment Act of 2022. I thank Senator Hirono for this courageous legislation to protect Native Hawaiian victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sex violence, and others, to have access to the vital services of VAWA, which I think are extremely important.

I also rise to support S. 5230, Billy's Law, or the Help Find the Missing Act. This is important. I have worked with missing and exploited children. This bipartisan legislation would fix the gaps in our Nation's databases of missing persons and unidentified remains, providing much-needed closure to the thousands of families who have endured the trauma of losing someone they love.

Each year, more than 600,000 Americans are reported missing. While many are ultimately found, at least 22,000 are currently missing.

I know that for a fact, Mr. Speaker, because I have dealt over the last month with a family whose loved one was missing, it was very painful, until tragically this person was found, and they were not found alive. But the pain of missing the person and not getting any response, this should be very helpful in at least giving comfort to families who are desperately in need of finding their loved one.

So as we go forward on this legislation, I hope to continue the work that we need to do with the Senate to move forward.

My final support is for S. 2899, the Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021. It is bipartisan legislation that would require the Bureau of Prisons to reevaluate the security camera, land-mobile radio, and public address systems in use at BOP institutions and submit to Congress a report. This is very important for civil liberty, civil rights, and prison employees.

Mr. Speaker, the well-being of these prisoners is critical, along with protecting the safety, well-being, and civil rights of incarcerated people and prison employees, including correctional officers, medical personnel, and other staff.

Let me just simply say, as I close, on the Bureau of Prisons, there is more work to be done. They have to do work on how they are treating women. There was a recent hearing that shows that women have been abused, sexually abused, in prisons, besides addressing other terrible issues, and that includes both prisoners and employees.

In addition, the Bureau of Prisons has been known to not utilize the compassionate release. In fact, their percentages are disgraceful. Most of the prisoners have had to go outside with a lawyer. This is a law. They should use it.

I hope that as we look at improving the cameras that will provide due process to these prisoners who are incarcerated, who are doing their time, they will also have a bureau that is responsible and sensitive to their responsibilities of incarceration but also fairness and due process.

I thank my colleague for yielding, and I ask for support for all of the legislation that I just commented on, particularly the underlying legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2991, the ``Countering Human Trafficking Act of 2021,'' which would make the Center for Countering Human Trafficking permanent and require other changes to strengthen the Center's contributions to the fight against human trafficking.

Human trafficking is one of the greatest threats to human rights in the United States. In 2020, 11,193 instances of potential human trafficking were reported to the United States National Human Trafficking Hotline with at least 70 percent of those instances involving sex trafficking.

I will continue to advance and support legislation, like the bill before us today, as well as programming aimed at preventing human trafficking and protecting victims and survivors--as an estimated 25 percent of human trafficking victims are reportedly in my home state of Texas at any given time--many of whom are minors.

At least 5,359 of trafficking victims and survivors identified through the hotline in 2019 were under the age of 18, and in 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 17,200 reports of suspected child sex trafficking.

That is why I introduced the H.R. 7566 Stop Human Trafficking in School Zones Act, also known as the No Trafficking Zones Act, to ensure that our nation's schools are a safe haven for students. I hope the Senate will take up and pass my bill so that we may get it to the president's desk before this Congress ends.

While traffickers seek out vulnerable minors and adults--no person is truly safe from the schemes of charismatic traffickers bent on exploiting and destroying lives.

Sadly, these statistics were only made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic--during which traffickers took advantage of individuals and communities in crisis--further increasing the number of people at risk of falling victim to human trafficking.

It is for all of these reasons that we must help maintain the momentum gained by the Center for Countering Human Trafficking in recent years.

The Center is responsible for integrating the efforts of 16 different offices and components of the Department of Homeland Security into a cohesive strategy that supports law enforcement investigations and training, shields and supports victims, develops and enhances prevention strategies, and engages with the public.

S. 2991 is a straightforward, bipartisan bill that would make the Center permanent while promoting stability and modernization and encouraging continued collaboration, growth, and innovation.

I thank Senator Gary Peters and John Katko for their leadership on this bill and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support it.

Mr. Speaker, S. 2899, the ``Prison Camera Reform Act of 2021,'' is bipartisan legislation that would require the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate the security camera, land-mobile radio, and public address systems in use at BOP institutions and submit to Congress a report on any deficiencies and a plan to implement needed improvements.

Security camera systems within prisons are critical for protecting the safety, wellbeing and civil rights of both incarcerated people and prison employees, including correctional officers, medical personnel and other staff.

Documented deficiencies in the federal Bureau of Prisons' security camera systems, however, limit the effectiveness of that protection.

A 2016, DOJ Office of Inspector General report identified major deficiencies and needed upgrades within the BOP's security camera system, including blind spots, inoperable cameras and limited functionality.

In a 2021 memo, OIG reaffirmed the 2016 report stating that ``the OIG continues to see the same deficiencies in our investigations that we observed during our 2016 review. These deficiencies have negatively impacted the OIG's investigations and ability to secure prosecution of serious incidents in BOP institutions, including sexual assaults, civil rights violations, introduction of contraband, dereliction of duty, and even inmate deaths.''

Although BOP has begun upgrading these systems at some institutions, serious shortcomings remain.

This bill would require BOP to investigate and address deficiencies in the camera and radio systems across all institutions.

BOP would also be required to implement all needed improvements within three years and submit annual progress reports. The significant oversight mechanisms within this legislation will enable Congress to hold BOP accountable and ensure all deficiencies are addressed within the specified time period.

``Dead spots'' in video surveillance coverage inside FCI Dublin in California may have even contributed to the lack of accountability for the sexual abuse committed against incarcerated women in that facility.

Earlier this month, a former unit manager at FCI Dublin testified that the facility lacked sufficient security camera coverage and that many cameras are either not monitored or footage is deleted. The former warden is relying heavily on the lack of video footage in his defense against the sexual assault case.

This tragic story highlights the need to address camera deficiencies within BOP facilities as quickly as possible. The lack of adequate camera systems puts the safety of both incarcerated individuals and correctional officers and staff at risk.

This bill is a bipartisan common sense measure to require that BOP investigate and address these critical safety concerns and ensures that the improvements will be made by including adequate Congressional oversight.

I want to thank Representatives Keller, McBath, and Trone as well as Senator Ossoff for introducing this important legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 5230, the ``Help Find the Missing Act,'' also known as ``Billy's Law.''

This bipartisan legislation would fix the gaps in our Nation's databases of missing persons and unidentified remains, providing much- needed closure to the thousands of families who have endured the trauma of losing someone they love.

Each year more than 600,000 Americans are reported missing. While many are ultimately found, at least 22,000 Americans are currently missing, and the remains of over 14,000 individuals have been recovered but not identified.

My own State of Texas has been hit particularly hard by the crisis of missing persons, as we have more than 2,200 open cases--second only to California--and three Texas cities rank among the top 10 cities with the highest number of missing persons.

The pain that families experience when one of their loved one goes missing is unimaginable. It is not merely a loss; it is a loss accompanied by terror, uncertainty, and endless questions that are rarely answered. We can, and we must, do more to help find the missing; to save who we can; and to provide assistance to the families of those who we cannot find or save.

Billy's Law would help us find more of our missing Americans by ensuring that the Department of Justice continues to maintain the National Missing Persons and Unidentified Persons System, or ``NamUs.''

In addition to providing a database of missing persons, NamUs provides a variety of critical support services to law enforcement, medical examiners, and families of those who have gone missing.

But not all missing persons and unidentified remains are required to be reported to NamUs. That is why Billy's Law is so critical.

Rather than having a multitude of unconnected missing person databases that cannot communicate with each other, Billy's Law would link NamUs with the FBI's National

Criminal Information Center (NCIC) database, creating more complete, comprehensive databases and streamlining the reporting process.

The bill would also require the Attorney General to issue guidelines and best practices to the agencies that handle cases involving missing persons or unidentified remains.

Lastly, Billy's Law would expand current law to require that missing children be reported to NamUs, in addition to NCIC, and it will require the reporting of information on every unidentified deceased person, adults and children alike.

My State of Texas passed similar legislation just last year, requiring law enforcement agencies and medical examiners to use NamUs to solve missing and unidentified persons cases.

But while I am proud of the steps my State has taken, this is a national problem that demands a national solution. Billy's Law is that solution.

As a testament to the value of this bipartisan legislation, it is supported by numerous law enforcement and forensic specialist organizations, including the National Association of Police Organizations, the Fraternal Order of Police, The American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and the National Association of Medical Examiners.

I commend Senator Murphy for his years of dedication to Billy's Law and missing persons across the country, and I thank Representative Hayes for her work on this issue as well. I urge my colleagues to support this significant bipartisan legislation.

Madam Speaker, in this season of greetings and well- wishes for holidays for Americans, I do wish them a very special holiday season in all the ways that we, as Americans, will celebrate this holiday.

We know that it is a season of giving and good cheer as we finish our collective work to be able to fund the government, to keep the doors open, and to help the services of those who need them to continue.

I also think it is important to say that we have crucial legislation that should be passed. We cannot leave without passing voting rights. We cannot leave with gifting to the American people oppressive voting laws to stop them from voting, that purge the voting rolls. We cannot leave without real human trafficking legislation that protects our children at schools.

The No Trafficking Zones Act is in the Senate, the other body, and it has to be passed. It is a pathway of protecting children and families feeling safe when their children go to schools, that predators will not be able to actually recruit children for human trafficking right at the school and even online.

Madam Speaker, I give good greetings, but this legislation has to pass, voting rights and the No Trafficking Zones Act.