Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, what a great amount of excitement yesterday when I left downtown Houston and went to one of our community schools to engage with young Hispanic and African-American students on the eclipse that had not been seen for years and years and years.

What an enthusiastic message we were giving them that they, too, can stand for science and the solar system.

Yet, my Republican friends want to make light of some interpretation that I gave to one of the elements of this eclipse. Rather than being excited about the idea of those seeing the eclipse, Republicans again wanted to make fun. They didn't want to talk about prenatal care. They didn't want to talk about the idea of women's rights. They didn't want to talk about school student loan reduction. They wanted to talk about a Democratic Member.

Well, I am glad I was standing with these children right here--here I am--to be able to celebrate the eclipse that will not be seen until 2044. It is unfortunate that we didn't have this picture, at least, to show that someone is looking at the Sun in 2017. That is something to laugh about.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because it seems that I have caused a dust- up on outrage island.

Ah yes, Republicans in search of their day-to-day quest to find something to be mad at, are obsessing with the fact that I misspoke yesterday when talking about the sun.

Well, since tomorrow we know they will be looking for something else, allow me to suggest some ideas.

Let us hear the selective outrage of their dear leader staring aimlessly with his own unshielded eyes at the last eclipse.

Or maybe, let's hear the screams of disapproval over the time he told us all we should inject ourselves with bleach during the Pandemic.

Hmmm one more for good measure, the time just a few weeks ago he thought Nikki Haley who has never served in Congress, was in control of security at the Capitol on, I believe January 6, 2021.

While you all focus on the misuse of words, I'm focused on helping kids get exposed to science and expanding the rights of women that all of you are so desperate to take away.

Want a story to write? Write about that. And write about the goodness of so many Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the critical crisis that is occurring in Haiti, an increasing escalating situation.

The situation in Haiti is deteriorating and the Haitian government has recently declared a state of emergency.

In the last couple of years, Haiti has seen an increase in violence, including kidnappings and sexual violence in Haiti's capital, Port-au- Prince which have ravished the country.

At least 80 percent of the capital is under the control of gangs.

Many Haitian citizens cannot leave their homes for fear that they will never make it back.

In 2023, there were 5,000 murders and 2,000 kidnappings and over 300,000 people have been displaced within the country while another 1.4 million Haitians are near famine.

It is truly devastating to see Haiti in such a condition considering its history of resilience and fervent fighting spirit.

For decades, Haiti has faced significant challenges, including natural disasters and environmental shocks as well as multiple political crises.

Intensified gang violence and recurring political and civil unrest since July 2018 have severely exacerbated Haiti's dire economic and humanitarian conditions: unemployment and inflation are high; the national currency is volatile; fuel shortages are recurring and severe; foreign reserves are dangerously low; more than 60 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, and more than four million Haitians face crisis- or emergency-level food insecurity.

Following the catastrophic events that occurred in 2018, I introduced H.R. 6325, the Continue American Safety Act (CASA) which provided temporary protected status for certain countries, such as Haiti.

The proportion of people in Haiti facing acute food insecurity has increased significantly, from 1 in 3 people in 2018 to almost 1 in 2 people in 2022, according to the study ``Food security in Central America, Panama, Dominican Republic, Mexico and Haiti,'' published by the Inter-American Development Bank.

In addition to grappling with the COVID-l9 pandemic and an economic recession, President Jovenel Moise was assassinated on July 7, 2021, and weeks later a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit southern Haiti on August 14.

A nearly two-month long gang-led blockage of the nation's largest fuel terminal from late September to early November 2022 led to a nationwide fuel shortage, shutting down hospitals and water treatment facilities at the same time cholera reemerged for the first time since 2019.

While humanitarian assistance can alleviate some urgent needs, it will not, and cannot, address the root causes of the current economic and political paralysis in Haiti.

Haiti has been one of the closest, and longest-standing allies of the United States.

Haiti needs help because the stability of Haiti and its surrounding nations is interconnected. It is only through a unified voice that we will be able to experience a vibrant and successful Haiti that is a leader in the Caribbean.

I have supported legislation in the past, such as the introduction of the HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2023.

An Act that would extend trade preferences with Haiti, expand core labor standards, and provide technical assistance to the Haitian government.

It is imperative that we support Haiti and help with this ongoing crisis.

The Haiti Support Project is an initiative of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century, who recently visited with my office here on Capitol Hill.

The primary mission of the Haiti Support Project is to marshal moral, political, and material support to assist the Haitian people to develop a strong and vital democratic society and a vibrant and sustainable economy as a free and self-determining people.

Given Haiti's unique history as the first Black Republic in the western hemisphere, the Haiti Support Project seeks to build a constituency and effective base of support for Haiti in the U.S., primarily focusing on mobilizing the human and material resources of African Americans in collaboration with Haitian Americans.

Although democracy in Haiti requires a Haitian-led solution, there are many ways we can assist our Haitian brothers and sisters because public safety should be our number one priority, especially in countries outside of our own.

It is imperative that we support Haiti in its desire to transition towards free and fair elections while applying pressure to political and economic actors who are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Haiti.

Haiti's transition to a functional democracy is important to the United States.

Strong democratic institutions, including holding regular free and fair elections, can help guarantee Haiti's democratic traditions and ensure a voice for the Haitian people in their governance.

By promoting democratic core values, such as respect for human rights, the rule of law, and economic development both in the region and around the world, we can be the prime example for country development and assistance.

Additionally, we must subvert the trade and sale of illegal guns which is a major contributor to Haiti's growing gang crisis and the current instability that plagues the country.

Haitians have long asked for safety from gang violence and they deserve help that the U.S. can provide.

Illicit arms trafficking from the United States to the Caribbean is a regional and national security threat.

In 2022, the Department of Homeland Security reported an increase in the number, caliber, and types of firearms illegally trafficked to the Caribbean.

The steady flow of illicit firearms has exacerbated crime and migration in the Caribbean.

In Haiti, illicit firearms from thejUnited States have enabled violent gangs to control over 80 percent of Port-au-Prince and have caused a dramatic increase in migration to the United States.

In the 117th Congress, I also supported the introduction of H. Res. 670, Condemning the inhumane treatment of Haitian migrants at the southern border of the United States, as they should not be mistreated for fleeing a country riddled with violence.

My colleague, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and others have introduced the Caribbean Arms Trafficking Causes Harm (CATCH) Act to curb U.S. Firearms Trafficking to the Caribbean.

By requiring the Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions to report on their implementation of anti-firearm-trafficking provisions in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, this legislation will combat firearms trafficking from the United States to the Caribbean.

We must also invest our resources in the people of Haiti by building schools, encouraging education, creating job opportunities. Education is the key that unlocks the possibilities of the future; it changes lives.

Sixty-four percent of the Haitian population is under 24 years of age.

Working to foster a culture of education in Haiti is the greatest investment we can make in eliminating poverty, boosting economic growth, strengthening democracy, and promoting prosperity.

Finally, as members of Congress, we must collaborate to unlock the $40 million in aid that the Biden administration has requested to help stabilize Haiti amid an increase in gang violence there, despite warnings that continued chaos could lead to a humanitarian crisis and drive migrants fleeing the country into the United States.

Haiti's insecurity is a threat to America's security.

It is past time for the United States to step up and come together and carry out our responsibility as the leader of the free world.

Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Budget, Judiciary, and Homeland Security, I proudly rise in support of H. Res. 1102--Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Approps Minibus No. 2) which will provide funding to continue the operations of the federal government through September 30, 2024, enhance supportive services to the American people, and avoid a wasteful and irresponsible shutdown.

After multiple Continuing Resolutions and threats of a government shutdown, I am relieved that an agreement has been reached between the bicameral, bipartisan leadership, and produced a second minibus spending package that keeps our remaining federal agencies funded.

This bipartisan legislation, which represents a compromise between Republicans and Democrats that adheres to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, would fund the remainder of the Federal Government through the end of the fiscal year, while investing in key priorities for the American people.

Specifically, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, provides full-year funding for the six remaining FY24 Appropriations bills:

Defense;

Financial Services and General Government;

Homeland Security;

Legislative Branch;

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and

State and Foreign Operations.

The 2024 funding bills invest in America's future and deliver for the American people by:

Helping with the high cost of living, reducing drug costs, and prioritizing childcare and Head Start;

Siding with hardworking Americans by supporting education, job training, and placement programs that help Americans find high paying jobs, defending robust worker protection agencies that ensure Americans are safe and properly compensated at work, and by ensuring billionaires and wealthy corporations pay the taxes they owe;

Protecting women's rights by blocking attempts to limit women's access to reproductive health care (including the elimination of Title X Family Planning and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grants) and supporting the reproductive health of women overseas;

Reinforcing America's global leadership by strengthening defense capabilities, ensuring America can respond anywhere in the world where freedom and democracy are under attack, amplifying American diplomacy, and reaffirming our global commitments to fight climate change and reinforce global health; and

Helping our communities be safe and secure by funding border security, preventing the trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs, bolstering cyber security, protecting consumers from scammers, fraudsters, and dangerous products, and enabling robust and immediate responses to natural disasters.

Like the first Appropriations minibus, the bill rejects nearly all House Republican riders.

It also includes $1,383,069 in Community Project Funding that will be going directly to my constituents that I know will have a profound impact on Texas's 18th District.

I am pleased that Sec. P118-08-00 Conveyance and Detention Improvements, $1,383,069, was included in Homeland to be funded.

It was my goal to fund as many of the 3,203 Democratic projects across all 2024 funding bills as were eligible.

I am proud of the hard work it took to get to this point in an unprecedented year for the House of Representatives, and I hope that you will all join me in celebrating these direct investments in your community.

These investments create jobs, making a real difference in the lives of so many in my district.

I am proud to have fought for funding that will make our community healthier, safer, and stronger.

Funding the government is essential to our constituents, and I am happy that we were finally able to deliver.

This legislation provides vitally needed and long-overdue funding that will improve the lives of the American people.

House Democrats have worked to deliver results to the American people and these projects, programs, services, and improvements will do just that.

Without the passage of this bill, the livelihood of millions of Americans will be in jeopardy and the safety and security of the United States would be diminished.

The passage of this legislation is vital, I support it enthusiastically, and urge my colleagues to join me in passing this bipartisan, essential legislation to fund our government.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to be able to reaffirm to the American people that I and my colleagues did our job today as I stand in support of the resolution and the appropriations that kept the government open.

I told my constituents I could not be at various events today, Friday, March 22, because I had to be here to ensure that our students had Pell grants, to make sure that small businesses are being supported, to ensure that Medicare and Medicaid were strongly enforced, and public health is still in place.

I wanted to make sure that we had the biomedical research that helps so many lives be restored.

And, of course, I am a champion and an advocate for mental health care. It is not enough for the families who suffer and try to help their loved ones.

I want to make sure we get rid of tax cheats and, of course, the drug of choice that kills Americans--fentanyl.

I want to be part of the fight as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and to be sure that Ukraine and Gaza gets the appropriations and the dollars that they need.

We chose to keep the government open today.

Mr. Speaker, I am here today to speak in opposition to the proposed legislation, H. Con. Res. 86--Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.

Days away from a shutdown of their own making, my Republicans colleagues are focused on their political agenda over the needs of the American people.

It is important for the American people to know and to be reminded that Democrats made significant strides in unlocking the clean energy economy with the Inflation Reduction Act, while House Republicans are only concerned with undoing that progress and blocking those achievements.

Year after year, research comes out supporting what we have known for years:

Climate change is one of the biggest threats to the survival of our nation and the welfare of our people.

Scientists have warned us about the devasting reality that would follow if we failed to act as a nation.

It is clear that some of us have heeded these warnings with great concern while others have taken them lightly.

My colleagues on the other side insist that a carbon tax would harm American families, specifically the poor, the elderly, and those on fixed incomes.

But what do they have to say about the impacts of emissions on those groups?

We know that the effects of climate change are not equally distributed, instead affecting the elderly, low-income communities, and people of color the most.

Climate change is no longer a distant threat--we are seeing the direct impacts of our inaction right now across the United States.

In countless neighborhoods throughout Texas and across the country we are already seeing the devastating effects of climate change on our coasts, our forests, our farmland, and through extreme weather patterns and ever-more destructive natural disasters.

Just last summer, Texas had the second hottest summer on record, with Texans being asked to conserve power as the state grid struggled to keep up with the demand for air conditioning due to scorching temperatures.

Heat is deadly, often killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes, or floods.

Last summer, at least 97 Texans died from heat-related illness, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

These record-breaking temperatures put the lives and livelihoods of Texans at risk.

As a representative from Houston, where millions of jobs are created from the fossil fuel industry, I understand the concerns my colleagues on the other side have about the economy.

However, I assure them that the economy will not be spared if we fail to act.

According to a 2023 study, the summer heat cost the Texas economy about $24 billion dollars.

Texas is twice as vulnerable to heat-related economic slowdowns than the rest of the country.

Studies using data from the last two decades found that for every degree of higher temperature in summer, Texas sees a slowdown of 0.4 percent in economic growth.

Extreme heat hurts businesses as customers stay home rather than going out to shop or dine.

According to the Texas Tribune, industries whose workers are frequently outdoors--including the oil and gas industry and construction--I saw a notable slowdown in employment growth related to the heat, as construction projects became delayed.

When considering national disasters, the monetary burden grows even larger.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Texas has felt some of the most severe consequences of climate change than any U.S. state or territory, costing the state at least $401 billion in hazard-related damage.

The cost estimates account for more than a dozen factors, including physical damage to buildings and infrastructure, decreases in earnings from interruptions to businesses and loss of agricultural assets.

Climate change is expected to impede the rate of economic growth of our Nation over this century.

To do absolutely nothing to counter climate change would have damning consequences for my district, my state, and the Nation.

Tackling climate change is looking out for wellbeing of our most vulnerable communities and our economy.

To do this, we must reduce carbon emissions in our atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas contributing to this most recent climate change.

When large amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the air from man-made sources, our planet grows warmer, affecting the quality of every species on the planet, including us.

A carbon tax price provides the economic incentive for the quickest and most comprehensive emission reductions across the entire economy.

Democrats have continuously fought for climate solutions that would put our nation in the path of energy security, lower energy costs for Americans, and thousands of clean jobs.

It is time my Republicans colleagues put political games aside and join Democrats in supporting environmentally conscious solutions.

The time calls for fresh determination and urgency.

We must work side-by-side with the American people to create a future of sustainability for our children and grandchildren, and prosperity and opportunity for our families and communities, for generations to come.

Mr. Chair, I am here today to speak in strong opposition to the proposed legislation, H.R. 7023, the Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act.

This bill would modify requirements under the well-established Clean Water Act, limiting the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to regulate the discharge of pollutants into United States waters.

If passed, it would represent a significant regression from over 50 years of well-established precedent regarding pollution prevention.

Moreover, it would defy the overarching intent of the initial legislation, which was to provide for more agency oversight and accountability of industrial polluters, not less.

I offered for consideration to the Rules Committee, the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 21, which sought to help ensure that any harmful impact, which would inevitably result from the passage of this dangerous bill, is documented, and reported to Congress.

Specifically, the Jackson Lee Amendment No. 21 would have added the following language to the end of the bill text in H.R. 7023:

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, shall submit to Congress a report on any disparate impacts on minority and disadvantaged communities, and communities previously or currently designated as having cancer clusters, including impacts to human health, environmental quality, and local economies, that may result from the implementation of this Act, including the amendments made by this Act.

In my home-state of Texas and in my district particularly, there have been multiple revelations of cancer clusters in many of the underserved and minority communities.

For instance, the Fifth Ward, Kashmere Gardens, and the larger Northeast community along with other communities in the 18th Congressional District of Texas, are all regions with minority and underserved populations that have been disproportionately and gravely impacted by harmful environmental pollutants and toxins.

In a time where we are still seeking to combat the deadly and dangerous impacts of environmental injustice in my district, and across the country, we must be taking more vigilant steps to protect our communities and the environment for current and future generations.

Instead, this partisan package repeals, weakens, or otherwise erodes the oversight and regulatory powers of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers established by the Clean Water Act (CWA) over 50 years ago.

While the CWA requires projects to minimize their impact on the environment, this bill hamstrings EPA's oversight of large-scale projects and changes the process by which it reviews ``linear'' projects like oil and gas pipelines.

At the same time, the bill also significantly hampers the legal action the government can take against polluters, shortens the timeline for judicial review, and removes opportunities for local governments to give input on projects affecting their communities.

Coupled with the ruling in Sackett v. EPA last year that changed the definition of what qualifies as protected waters under the CWA, this bill is simply a shameful attempt to swing the door open for corporations to maximize their profits at the expense of the health of the general public.

Although the bill purports to ``cut red tape'' and speed up the permitting process, adding a formal rulemaking process instead of maintaining the system by which the EPA currently issues guidance will actually slow it down and open these permits up to judicial review.

It is time we stop playing these senseless and harmful political games that only put the health of the American people at risk.

It is time for my Republican colleagues to join me and my Democratic colleagues across the aisle in working towards common sense, bipartisan solutions for the advancement and protection of our Nation and the American people.

Yet, here we are again, instead of finding real solutions to real crises--such as providing aid to our allies abroad and providing long- term funding to yet again avert a government shutdown--House Republicans have instead chosen to once again waste precious floor time on political stunts on behalf of Big Polluters.

For these reasons, this Resolution providing consideration for this bill and the other anti-environment bills in this rule package should be voted down.

I urge my colleagues to vote no on this reckless and shortsighted bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to give dignity and respect to the victims of pollution across America, those who have suffered from toxic catastrophes, like the train derailment in

Palestine, but, more importantly, the cancer clusters in Fifth Ward, Texas, in Kashmere Gardens and Settegast in the northeast part.

The legislation, H.R. 7023, Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act, does the complete opposite by limiting the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate the discharge of pollutants into the United States' waters. Those waters then trickle into the soil.

That is what happened in Kashmere Gardens in Fifth Ward, where water pollution trickled into the soil and created cancer clusters in our neighborhoods. This area has the highest number of cancer clusters and cancer victims in the State and maybe the Nation.

I am trying to fight it. I have put in an amendment that will require the Administrator to submit a report to Congress.

I will not stop until we end the cancer clusters and stop the polluters that are over the people of this Nation. I will continue to fight.

As I traveled through the airport, I could sense the degree of excitement of many of the students who were traveling on spring break.

As I entered the Capitol, it was a joy to see so many classes and families enjoying the wonderment of democracy in this great place, the citadel of democracy.

Nonetheless, I rise today to talk about America's schoolchildren and particularly to talk about those who are impacted by disparate policies such as the policies in Barbers Hill.

I want to acknowledge the Congressional Black Caucus and the advocates who have supported and surrounded Mr. George. Mr. George is a young man who is isolated in a classroom, who has been going to school with no academic teaching, no ability to fraternize with his fellow students, no ability to eat in the lunchroom, and no expectation of any kind of spring break.

Madam Speaker, you ask: Well, he has obviously misbehaved.

No. He has over a 3.0 grade point average. He is an excellent student, but he is being there because of his hairstyle. I need the Secretary of Education to help this young man and go to his classroom.

Save him from this isolation and prison-like environment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on H.R. 7521, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

This bill would prohibit the distribution, maintenance, or provision of internet hosting services for any foreign adversary controlled application unless they execute a qualified divestiture as determined by the President.

More specifically, under this bill, ByteDance would be required to divest themself from Tiktok in order for the application to remain in operation.

As one of the most dominant social media platforms in recent history, it currently has over 150 million active users in the United States alone.

Much of this success could be attributed to the application's algorithms being used to generate specifically curated content for each user on their respective ``For You'' pages in a short-form, infinite scroll format.

Upon the rapid success of this content format, other social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube have all followed suit.

This has only further entrenched the massive success of the company among its users.

This success is not without caveat, however.

Recent studies conducted by researchers at Rutgers University found a disturbing underrepresentation of certain topics on the platform.

Though pop culture and political terms were represented roughly proportional to other platforms, topics involving Uyghurs, Tibet, Tiananmen Square, and the Hong Kong protests were severely underrepresented.

In addition, many valid concerns have been raised regarding the issue of national security and foreign government interference.

Many stakeholders argue that the vast amount of data harvested from American users poses a threat to our data security and democracy.

With the vast amount of American users on the platform, particularly individuals under the age of 24, I recognize the need to ensure security in our national democracy.

I hope, moving forward, that we can join together in taking action to protect our youth from harmful actors while also safeguarding their freedom of thought.

More investigation must happen to decide the next steps for TikTok. I will pursue the next steps before finalizing a complete ban. What company will be the purchaser? All must be answered before the best decision can be made.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the graciousness of Ms. Kaptur for this time.

I honor, in this month, Women's History Month, and salute the many women who have invested in the lives of so many.

I honor the teachers who have taught young people. I honor Ivalita Jackson and Valerie Bennett, who came from Florida, my aunt and my mother, as two young women and made their way and provided opportunities for me.

I salute the first person who was nominated as a Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton. I salute Rosa Parks, who opened the doors for opportunity and integration and who refused to back down. I honor those in my own community, like Maxine Seales.

I honor those who are yet to be recognized, the young girls who question whether or not they can be the very best. My commitment to them and my message to them is that there is no limit to the opportunities that you can have. As this month honors women who have created history, you have a pathway for history as well.

I will continue, as a Member of the United States Congress, to invest in opportunities for girls so they can see there is no limit and to make sure that, as we move forward, our young men will understand there are no limits for them equally.

This is Women's History Month, and I stand here today and salute these women.

Might I finish by saying I honor those women who have stood up against human trafficking and fought against the scourge of mistreatment of women around the world and who have looked for the equality of girls around the world.

Since I just met with her just a few weeks ago, I honor Malala, a strong fighter for education in Pakistan, a young woman who should be honored during Women's History Month.

Madam Speaker, with a great deal of consternation I rise in opposition to the opposition.

H. Res. 1065, here we go again. Rather than solutions, the Republicans are denouncing the Biden administration's immigration policy.

What do they have to offer?

This is an outrage.

I thought it was extremely important to make sure that I put my statement in the Record about a President who is putting forward solutions by putting forward a supplemental almost 1 year ago that would have provided more resources to our southern border where I live, more resources in terms of dealing with asylum, more Border Patrol, more Customs and Border Protection, more courts, and more lawyers to be able to address what the American people want to be addressed.

Nonetheless, what do we spend our time doing on the floor of the House?

Condemning, not solving, and not finding a solution for our DACA young people who are doctors, lawyers, teachers, and others, EMS supporters, if you will, or workers.

All we are doing led by the Republican majority, is condemn, condemn, and condemn.

I want solutions. As the second in seniority member of the Homeland Security Committee, we are going to continue to work on the positive solutions of Joe Biden, President of the United States. He has solutions to be able to bring us all together to have comprehensive immigration reform.

Let's work with the President of the United States. Stop denouncing. Do your job.

Madam Speaker, in the bitter cold, one might wonder what the conditions of the soldiers in Ukraine are, young soldiers who are fighting for democracy.

You would also wonder why this body of Members has not been able to resolve the crisis at the border in a way that is humane and is dealing with the southern border with the right kind of personnel and the right kind of funding. All of this was offered.

There are hostages still being held, but what is most of a crisis are the children in Gaza who are dying and the fact that we are leaving this week without providing the funding that is necessary, the humanitarian funding, helping Doctors Without Borders, trying to make sure that ships are delivering the amount of resources that are necessary. People are dying, but most of all, our babies are dying.

It is urgent that the Speaker of the House provides funding legislation, some of which was already presented by the President of the United States, to move forward on saving lives, helping the soldiers fighting for democracy, children trying to live, and families trying to live.

Enough is enough. We must show our humanity.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7102 the ``Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act.''

H.R. 7102 creates an Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) within the Small Business Administration.

I am a long-time member of the Congressional Native American Caucus as well as the Congressional Small Business Caucus.

I understand the need for Native Americans to have an advocate within the Small Business Administration.

The Native American business community as well as families would be positively impacted by the passage of H.R. 7102.

This bill would draw attention to the resources that are available to tribal business owners through the (SBA) and oversee economic and entrepreneurial relationships with the Small Business Administration.

The goal is to produce economic development within tribal communities by educating Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations about programs administered by other Federal agencies.

The passing of H.R. 7102 would allow the Office of Native American Affairs to:

Work with Indian tribes, Alaska Native corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and small businesses owned by individuals who are members of those entities on entrepreneurial development, contracting and capital access programs to establish or expand their small business concerns and promote economic development in Indian Country.

Formulating and promoting policies, and enhancing existing programs, so they better address the entrepreneurial, capital access, business development and contracting needs of tribes and Native businesses, including by collaborating with high-level officials of SBA and other federal agencies.

In addition, the (ONAA) will be able to provide financial and other assistance directly to deploy training, counseling and other educational outreach, workshops, supplier events.

Additional important assistance would include access to the SBA's entrepreneur and contracting programs to facilitate Native contractors' participation in SBA's various small business contracting programs, facilitating and improving access to SBA's various loan programs, loan guarantees, disaster assistance, and other capital access programs.

Finally, ensuring tribal consultations are conducted to solicit input and facilitate discussion of potential modifications to SBA programs and procedures.

It is imperative that H.R. 7102 is passed because Native Americans will have an advocate and the economic and entrepreneurial tools it needs to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of 30 years of Brady Background Checks.

The landmark Brady Bill, championed by Jim and Sarah Brady, was enacted 30 years ago on February 28, 1994.

This historic legislation established our nation's background check system for guns sold at licensed firearms dealers.

The Brady Bill is named after Reagan White House Press Secretary Jim Brady.

After Jim Brady survived a bullet to the head during the 1981 assassination attempt of President Reagan, he and his wife, Sarah Brady, knew our country urgently needed common-sense solutions to prevent guns from falling into the hands of those who intend to cause harm.

Since its enactment, the Brady Bill has blocked almost 4.9 million prohibited gun transactions.

Thirty years later, the Brady Bill continues to save countless lives each day because background checks work.

As we celebrate enduring milestones that have transformed our country, I cannot help but remember the lives that have been selfishly lost to inaction and negligence.

So, in addition to celebrating the success of the Brady Bill, I would like to take a moment to urge the passage of an additional, necessary piece of gun violence prevention legislation--H.R. 52, The Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act.

This bill was named after Kimberly Vaughan, a 14-year-old girl, who was among the ten lives we lost during the devastating Santa Fe High School shooting on May 18, 2018.

H.R. 52 will establish best practices for firearm storage to protect children from improperly stored or misused firearms and establish a grant program for local government and nonprofits to distribute safe storage devices.

In particular, the Attorney General is directed to establish voluntary best practices relating to safe firearm storage and publish them on a website and in print.

Secondly, it will require most weapons to have a clear written notice on the packaging that says, ``Safe Storage Saves Lives' and how to obtain the best practices established by the Attorney General.

Additionally, the bill will provide grants to states and local governments with a ten-year, $10 million grant program to distribute safe storage devices.

As Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and co- founding member of the Children's Caucus, gun violence prevention and the protecting of children is deeply important to me.

And so, in highlighting the importance of passing bills, such as H.R. 52, we must also reflect and remember the lives of those lost to senseless gun violence.

Kimberly Vaughan loved cats, Harry Potter, and regularly took trips to the library.

She was drawing geometric shapes in her first period art class when she was tragically killed by a 17-year-old student who was on a shooting rampage.

That student ultimately massacred 8 students, 2 teachers, and wounded 13 others at Santa Fe High School in Texas.

It was the worst school shooting since 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida just two months prior.

The shotgun and the .38 caliber pistol the shooter took to school belonged to his father and were available to him at his home.

Firearm injury is the leading cause of death for children and young adults in the United States.

Although American children are ``twice as likely to be shot and killed as they are to die drowning,'' there are more safety regulations for pools than gun storage according to a report by Everytown for Gun Safety.

Every year, almost 20,000 children are shot and killed or wounded by a firearm, and 3 million are exposed to gun violence.

One in three U.S. households with children have firearms and firearms accounted for nearly 19 percent of childhood deaths in 2021, a 50 percent increase since 2019.

On average, 9 minors are killed by improperly stored or misused guns every day.

In my home state of Texas, more than 4,000 Texans are shot and killed each year.

Safe storage practices are critically important to keep firearms away from dangerous individuals and to keep children and families safe from senseless gun violence.

In the last decade, nearly 2 million firearms have been reported stolen.

Between 2010 and 2016, police recovered more than 23,000 stolen firearms that were used to commit kidnapping, armed robberies, sexual assaults, murders, and other violent crimes.

An estimated 4.6 million minors live in homes with at least one unlocked, loaded firearm; on average, 9 children are killed by improperly stored or misused guns every day.

The passage of the Brady Bill reminds us that bold action to prevent gun violence is possible.

Americans should be safe from gun violence in their homes and neighborhoods.

Americans should not be shot at Super Bowl parades.

Americans should not be shot in their schools.

Americans should not be shot at their places of worship.

It is simply unconscionable that guns are now the leading cause of death of children and teens in America.

Just two years ago, I joined Congress in passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the first major gun violence prevention law since the Brady Bill.

Already, this legislation is saving lives, but we need bolder action. It is long past the time to do something about the epidemic of gun violence in our nation? The nation that prides itself on protecting our children and the future generations. If we want to protect Americans, we must start by learning how to effectively store guns in the homes that choose to have them.

Americans want more than thoughts and prayers.

They want action.

Gun safety is a nonpartisan issue that requires a bipartisan solution.

Over 90 percent of Americans--including Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike--want to expand the Brady Bill and pass universal background checks so that we can end the scourge of gun violence.

A majority of Americans want an assault weapons ban, extreme risk laws, and support for community violence intervention.

Data for Progress finds 49 percent of voters support changing Senate rules so Democrats can pass gun control legislation.

This includes 76 percent of Democrats, 43 percent of Independents, and 24 percent of Republicans.

Put simply, Americans deserve sensible action to end this epidemic.

The Brady's legacy lives on today in the gun violence prevention organization named after them.

We must remain persistent in the fight for a safer America that is free of gun violence.

I will continue to work with colleagues to end this epidemic.

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear: We cannot shut this government down.

Mr. Speaker, 4 pages, 5 pages, or 20 pages of a stopgap measure, the government cannot shut down. The rules of this House and Senate require the Congress to do its work.

As the President said, we have the purse strings to be able to ensure that the government remains open; that law enforcement is paid; that Medicare and Medicaid are provided for our families and our seniors; that we are able to ensure that the young families of young soldiers, men and women of the United States military who put on the uniform unselfishly and are on the front lines, are paid.

As we have seen, a number of tragic incidents have caused the loss of lives of the men and women in uniform, including many of our tragic flight incidents. We have lost many lives over

this last year, including those who are in combat.

Mr. Speaker, are you telling me that we are not going to put pen to paper and work together, work with the Budget Committee that I sit on, to ensure that there are Members who will advocate for your Members to join in, without poison pills, of the funding of the CR?

This paper allows us today to work through an extension until March 8 and an extension until March 22. It includes a response to our student loan crisis, which is extremely important. It ensures that the doors of the government remain open.

What I hope that we will be able to do is to fight against the dastardly position of underfunding or not funding the women, infants, and children program. My community needs to be able to provide funding for women, infants, and children, a major component of the Federal Government's budgeting.

What else do I want to make sure that we do? As I walked through my district over these last couple of days, in particular, I heard about the crisis of seniors and housing.

Mr. Speaker, we know that young families need housing, but do you realize that in the later years of a senior's life, sometimes they are priced out of their own home? Because of building around their home, their home values increase. They cannot afford the taxes or the upkeep. Where do they go?

This government should be committed, with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, to developing a serious housing program for seniors. This program would, in essence, ensure that we could provide housing for seniors all over America.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with Senator Tester, who, in speaking about the House, said that we can't fool around. If that is what it takes to get this done, we need to stop kicking the can down the road. We need to stop it. We need to get a real budget. Mr. Speaker, I am standing with him.

We can't be far right. We can't be far this. We can't be far that. We have to be for the American people. We can't be against the rights of women, where we are denying them the ability to get medication dealing with abortion. We cannot help our veterans who are in need of mental health care and not allowing them to go under the NICS check so that if they are in danger by getting guns that we can protect them. Again, as I said, we cannot stop the nutrition programs for low-income women.

Homeland Security, the border, providing relief for the people in Gaza, humanitarian relief for our children and pausing for peace, we have to work to fund all of those elements and resources at the southern border.

I thank the President for being at the southern border. We already know his insight. We know the work that he can do with Ranking Member Thompson of the Homeland Security Committee and those of us who are Democrats who want to see the border solved. We have to do it with a budget, and we have to also do it with passing the supplemental that he has put before us that takes care of the people of Ukraine and the soldiers on the front line and, as well, those elements in Taiwan and around the world.

Let me say this: I am here to work. I started out by saying we cannot shut the government down. There is too much work to be done. I am here to work. I am here to work and get the job done. Pass the budget.