Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, a few days ago, we lost a great Minnesotan and great American: Michael S. Berman. He passed away on January 12 at age 84. A skilled lawyer, shrewd political advisor, and principled public servant, Mike made indelible contributions to our nation.

Mike's penchant for politics was evident when he was a young man. Shortly after graduating the University of Minnesota Law School in 1964, he volunteered on President Lyndon B. Johnson's reelection campaign and organized a successful voter registration drive in his community. Impressed with Mike's work, Walter Mondale--then Attorney General of Minnesota--hired Mike to serve as his special assistant. Mike later moved here to Washington, D.C. in 1966 to serve on Mondale's Senate staff as Counsel. He quickjy became one of Mondale's most trusted advisors.

Mike's close professional and personal relationship with Mondale continued after Jimmy Carter made the Senator his running-mate. Mike led Mondale's transition team following the 1976 presidential election and went on to serve as the Vice President's Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff.

After leaving the White House, Mike continued to advise numerous political leaders and mentor up-and-coming political operatives from across the country--and across the generations. They trusted his judgment, enjoyed his humor, and appreciated his honesty. Between 1968 and 2004, Mike also scheduled every Democratic National Convention. Indeed, few people could match Mike's understanding of the innerworkings of the Democratic Party. He was a fixture of the Washington political landscape for decades. Mike also remained a prominent voice on some of the most pressing issues facing our nation and world--from promoting gun safety to advocating for civil and human rights.

Crucially, Mr. Speaker, Mike was a man of character and kindness. He was a devoted husband to his wife of 42 years, Carol--especially in the final months before she tragically passed away of lung cancer in 2007. He showed the same devotion to his second wife, Debbie, whom he married in 2012. My wife Elaine and I are praying for her and their three children and their spouses: Rachel and Dr. Steven Feinleib, Ben and Jen Cowan, and William Cowan. My thoughts are also with their four grandchildren and with Mike's two sisters, Sheila Teitelbaun and Nance Alexander. They ought to take comfort in knowing that we grieve with them. I ask all my colleagues to join me in honoring Mike Berman and praying for his many friends and family.

Mr. Speaker, last night, I joined Members on both sides of the aisle for a candlelight vigil to mark 103 days since October 7; 103 days since Hamas tore through Israeli communities leaving slaughter, rape, and destruction in their wake; 103 days since these terrorists took hundreds of Israelis and Americans hostage; and sadly, Mr. Speaker, 103 days of inaction by this Congress.

I believe the sentiments and prayers our Members shared at the vigil are genuine. Indeed, the vast majority of this Congress wants to aid Israel as well as Ukraine, but our actions--rather, I should say, inaction--belie our words.

The far right has prevented this Congress from delivering the resources necessary to give our rhetoric meaning and impact. Hollow words, empty threats, and unfulfilled promises are poor substitutes for military hardware, munitions, and humanitarian relief.

From partisan IRS cuts to a complete overhaul of our immigration system, Republican leadership has made supplemental aid to our allies contingent on completely unrelated issues.

Mr. Speaker, I should point out that the Speaker of this House, Mr. Johnson, sponsored a bill just a few years ago that said only one subject per bill because he didn't want to be forced to vote for something that he liked at the same time he voted for something he didn't like. From partisan IRS cuts to

immigration, the effort to unnecessarily complicate this aid is ironic considering that bill was called the One Subject at a Time Act.

Mr. Speaker, there is one subject that ought to be at the top of our minds right now: the defense of democracy. Every moment we fail to act disheartens our allies and emboldens the enemies of freedom.

Hamas doesn't have to question its allies' commitment to their cause. The Houthis have made their devotion clear, as have Iran, Hezbollah, and other Iranian proxies.

Putin knows he has the backing of the new axis of evil, as well. North Korea supplies him with artillery shells and ballistic missiles that rain down on Ukrainian civilians. Iran sends him suicide drones that buzz over trenches and through city streets across Ukraine.

Iran gives those same weapons to Hamas and its other proxies to use against the people of Israel.

We, on the other hand, are sowing doubt daily for our allies and for our enemies.

At least 132 Israeli and American hostages remain in Gaza awaiting rescue. Innocent Palestinians await our humanitarian aid as Hamas continues to use them as human shields.

In Ukraine, our allies scavenge the husks of burnt-out Russian tanks for spare parts. Ukrainian commanders are forced to ration ammunition. Artillery crews wait days for resupply, and when it finally comes, they can often count the number of shells on one hand.

Has the wellspring of freedom run dry? We must answer them now. Our answer must be a resounding no. Our actions now will be our only reply that is heard. The strong words of yesterday will be drowned out by the thunder of inaction today.

America, a beacon of freedom and democracy, stands inactive in the light of Putin's criminal aggression and Hamas' terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, let us come together and let us act. There are over 300 votes in this House for Ukraine. There are over 400 votes in this House for Israel and for humanitarian relief. Let us not stand silent, inept, inactive, unable to help those who are on freedom's front line this very hour.

Madam Speaker, it has been 687 days since Putin invaded Ukraine.

It has been 379 days since we secured our last aid package for the Ukrainians.

It has been 97 days since Hamas launched its brutal terror attack on Israel and took numerous Israelis and Americans hostage.

It has been 79 days since Mike Johnson became speaker, 71 days since he made aid to Israel contingent on completely unrelated partisan IRS cuts, breaking not only 75 years of bipartisan precedent but also the principles of the One Subject at a Time Act, which he sponsored back in 2017.

Madam Speaker, how many days will it be until Congress stands up for freedom and democracy once again? The answer ought to be today.

Instead, we find ourselves mired in the chaos sown by a majority party that refuses to give us a clean vote.

It must stop or I fear democracy's days may be numbered.

Let us act and let us act now for the Ukrainians and for the Israelis, to oppose criminal invasions and terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a tremendous firefighter, invaluable leader, great Marylander, and dear friend: Chief Ronald Jon Siarnicki. After 22 years of faithful service as the Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation, Ron recently retired. We ought to pay tribute to Ron and his commitment to serving his community and his country.

I've known Ron and worked with him ever since we met decades ago over lunch at a drug store counter below my law office. Even then, it was clear that Ron was a man of strong character, good humor, and selfless devotion to serving others. Indeed, service was a family tradition. Both Ron's father and grandfather were volunteer firefighters. Ron followed in their footsteps, becoming a volunteer firefighter with the Monessen Volunteer Fire Department, Hose House No. 2, in western Pennsylvania as a young man.

In 1978, Ron brought his talents to the Prince George's County Fire/ EMS Department. Over the following 24 years, he rose through the ranks to become Chief of the Department, overseeing all fire, rescue, and emergency medical services in the county. In that time, he also became a revered leader in our community. Prince Georgians knew they could rely on Ron to protect the safety and prosperity of their community. Firefighters and first responders trusted that Ron would always do everything possible to provide them the resources, tools, and direction necessary to do their crucial work as safely and effectively as possible. Ron also served on the county's Joint Fire and Police Pension Board for four years. Additionally, starting in 1997, Ron served as a faculty member for the Fire Service Curriculum at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC)--where he had previously earned both a BS in Fire Science Management and a master's degree from the School of Management and Technology.

Ron's leadership and career in fire services extended beyond Maryland. In 2001, he became the Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. For 22 years, he managed the foundation's day-to-day operations, supported the families of our fallen firefighters, and fought for policy reforms to keep our firefighters and first responders safe. As a co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, I was pleased to work closely with him on that mission. As Executive Director, Ron also oversaw the construction of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park and the renovation of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial Chapel in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Year after year, I've had the great--and solemn--privilege of standing with Ron in Emmitsburg during the annual National Firefighters Memorial Weekend to honor the courageous men and women who gave their lives to protect others.

Ron has received many awards and accolades from a variety of organizations for his contributions to the fire services, including the Fire Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award, Alan Brunacini Fire Services Executive Safety Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Metropolitan Fire Chiefs' Presidents Award of Distinction, UMUC Distinguished Alumnus, American Burn Association's Moncrief Award, and the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Silver Medal of Valor. Ron is a man of great humility, however. He did not become a firefighter out of a desire for recognition or reward. He became a firefighter because he wanted to help others. He became a firefighter because that's who he is.

Ron may be bringing his career as Executive Director to a close, but his contributions will forever endure. Men and women throughout the fire services will continue to look at Ron as a leader and to rely on his wisdom and expertise for many years to come. Knowing Ron, he'll be happy to help however he can. He exemplifies a firefighter's best traits: selflessness, courage, dedication, and intelligence. For that, he has the gratitude of his community, country, and Congress. I ask all my colleagues to join me in thanking him for his continued service. We wish him and his family well as they start this next chapter.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, we spend a lot of time in this House focusing on that which we disagree on. I think if we spent more time focusing on what we have been able to do together and agree on, we would be a better House.

So I rise not to talk about the disagreements that the Speaker and I had, we had many differences, we are of different parties, and we had different perspectives, but I rise and thank Speaker McCarthy for that on which we could agree, because when we could agree, he took that opportunity to act upon that agreement.

It was good for the House, it was good for the country, and it was good for me.

So I thank Kevin for what we agreed upon and what we were able to do together here and abroad to try to bring us together, try to lift us up, and try to make sure that when we could work together we did work together.

It is an example that we ought to follow because it was a positive example.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Calvert for giving me the opportunity to come to this floor as a former majority leader, as a partisan Democrat, to say and recognize the work that Speaker McCarthy did to try to, when we could, move forward in agreement in a positive, constructive way. Good luck and Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. He is one of the great gentlemen of this institution, a man of faith, a man of great intellect, a man whose heart and conscience form his stances on issues. I am so blessed to be his friend.

Mr. Speaker, save for the gentleman from Texas, these seats are empty. The House of Representatives has adjourned for the year. We have adjourned to go home.

Mr. Speaker, I say we have adjourned. We won't adjourn technically until we finish special orders and perhaps 1 minutes. We have no more business, but we have an unfinished agenda, an unfinished agenda to confront the enemies of freedom and democracy.

Mr. Speaker, when President Zelenskyy came to our Nation's Capital back in September, he visited the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution in the National Archives. Standing before our Nation's founding documents, he said, and I quote President Zelenskyy: ``It is not the evil empire but the lack of unity that can bring freedom to its knees.''

He reiterated that message this week as our Members prepare and are currently returning home for the holidays. We get to return home and celebrate with our families in comfort and warmth. Mr. Speaker, the Ukrainians huddled amid snow and mud on the front lines of freedom will not have that luxury. The tens of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Putin's regime do not get that privilege. Neither do their families.

Zelenskyy is right, Mr. Speaker. We do face another evil empire today, a new axis of evil: Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, and the autocrats in Iran and in other parts of the world and its many proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels, and others who all stand as threats to democracy and freedom.

As these dictators and despots continue their assault on democracy, freedom, and international law, they watch whether the free world, of which we should be and for all intents and purposes are the leader of, waiting for that free world to stand together to oppose them. We will not have that opportunity until 25 days from now.

These past few months, Congress had an opportunity to send them that message of unity and strength. We have not done that.

Over 300 Members of the House, Mr. Speaker, voted to provide Ukraine additional aid all seven times it came to this floor. We are not not united on this issue. We simply have not brought it to the floor to express that unity and message to all the world.

An overwhelming majority of Members also wanted to provide aid to Israel, including myself. Mr. Speaker, Speaker Johnson acknowledged the need to aid our allies, saying in Florida the other day: ``Ukraine is another priority. Of course, we can't allow Vladimir Putin to march through Europe, and we understand the necessity of assisting there.''

Mr. Speaker, we have all gone home without undertaking that responsibility. Sadly, we apparently don't understand the urgency of that assistance.

Instead of giving us a clean vote to act on that consensus, Speaker Johnson needlessly complicated the issue by tying it to his Conference's partisan proposal to overhaul our border policy.

That decision, Mr. Speaker, was inconsistent with his cosponsorship of H.R. 395 back in 2017, which said the purpose of that bill was ``to end the practice of including more than one subject in a single bill . . . enacted by Congress.''

Mr. Speaker, the reason we have not acted on Israel, the reason we have not acted on Ukraine, the reason we have not come to the defense of democracy and freedom in Ukraine and to oppose terrorism in Israel, the reason is contrary to that one-purpose bill that Speaker Johnson was the sponsor of. He wants to put multiple issues in that, including border security, which we have been working on for 15 years but haven't been able to come to consensus.

We should be and we are in consensus on Ukraine, but we did not act. Evidently, they think that ethical principles only apply when it is politically convenient.

I agree that we need to fix the broken immigration system and address the situation at the border, but this is not the way to do it, not at the expense of the defense of freedom and democracy.

House Republican leadership spent the last week advancing a sham impeachment inquiry, a bill about whole milk, and legislation about duck stamps while Ukraine twisted in the wind. Our House should have had only one priority this week--ensuring democracy's survival.

By failing to provide this aid, our Congress signaled to our friends and

foes alike that America chooses reluctance over resolve, doubt over determination, and division over decisiveness. That posture of uncertainty puts our national security at risk.

The America First contingent of the Republican Party sends an even more damaging message. Time and time again, leaders of the American far right praise Putin, demonize Ukraine, and spread misinformation about the war.

Tucker Carlson, once one of the most-watched people on American TV, has become one of the most-watched people on Russian state television, where propagandists often play clips of his segments.

President Trump continues to play into Putin's hands, as well. Trump recently said that if reelected in 2024, he would end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. There is only one way to do that--give up, retreat, turn tail on the defense of democracy and Putin.

In response--and this is instructive--Putin said, ``We cannot help but feel happy about it,'' meaning Trump's claim that he would end the war in 24 hours. Giving up is the only way to do that.

Mr. Speaker, we have seen this kowtowing just recently on Capitol Hill. This week, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeted: ``Zelenskyy is here in D.C. today begging for your money, and warmongering Washington wants to give him limitless American dollars.''

That, of course, is not true, but it warms the heart of Vladimir Putin. She went on to say: ``How much money will Washington spend to slaughter an entire generation of young Ukrainian men as Washington fights its proxy war with Russia?''

I can remember, because I have been here a long time, when Republican friends accused the Democratic side of the aisle of too often blaming America first. Of course, that is what Marjorie Taylor Greene said.

It is disgusting to say that we are slaughtering Ukrainians when Putin's forces are doing just that every day.

We are doing everything possible to keep Ukrainians alive. Ukrainians courageously give their lives, as so many of our American forebearers have done, in defense of their country, in defense of their sovereignty, and in defense of their people's lives. Ukrainians courageously give their lives to defend their democracy, their country, and their families.

They will continue to do so with or without our support. Our aid, however, may well determine whether their sacrifice leads to victory or defeat. Yet, Mr. Speaker, the chairs are empty.

In another tweet, Congresswoman Greene asked: ``Why doesn't anyone in Washington talk about a peace treaty with Russia, a deal with Putin promising he will not continue any further invasions?'' Putin's promises have no credibility.

``Washington wants war,'' she said, ``not peace.''

That is a lie. Washington wants peace, but it is not prepared to pay for peace with being dominated by a dictator.

Believe me, we want peace, but we want a peace that lasts. A promise of peace from Putin is worthless. He is a former KGB officer turned dictator who has built his career one lie, one deception, and one betrayal at a time.

He already broke one peace agreement, the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, in which Putin, on behalf of Russia, agreed to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and borders in exchange for Ukraine's nuclear arsenal.

He has the nuclear arsenal. Ukraine was either the third or fourth largest holder of nuclear weapons in the world, and they gave them up in return for Putin's promise that their borders would be secured and unviolated.

Then it went into Crimea, and the West's response was weak. He is in Crimea today, notwithstanding the fact that that is under Ukrainian sovereignty.

Putin went back on that pledge when he took Crimea. He didn't stop with Crimea, however. He went into eastern Ukraine, and there is no reason to expect that he will stop with Ukraine.

Winston Churchill once said, an appeaser is one who hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last, but surely the crocodile will eat him.

John F. Kennedy shared the same wisdom in his book, ``Why England Slept.'' He wrote, ``Any person will awaken when the house is burning down. What we need is an armed guard that will wake up when the fire first starts or, better yet, one that will not permit a fire to start at all.''

The seats in this House are empty today while the fire threatens democracy and freedom in Ukraine, which is the front line of democracy and freedom today.

Mr. Speaker, the fire rages. Our inaction only stokes the flames. If you don't believe me, listen to what Russian State TV is saying. Allow me to quote from the transcript of a broadcast earlier this week: What is happening in the U.S. is beneficial for us. That is a quote from Russian TV, controlled by Putin.

The seats are empty, and Putin is happy.

They went on to say: ``Ukraine is losing. Russia is winning. This is it. Their funding and weapons came to an end.''

They were relying on the United States of America, that shining city on the hill that stands for freedom, individual rights, democracy, religious freedom. That beacon on the hill is less bright today because these seats are empty.

Putin said: As of now, well done, Republicans--his words, not mine-- well done, Republicans, for standing firm. That is good for us.

``Us'' is Russia. ``Us'' is the dictator. ``Us'' is the aggressor. ``Us'' is the international lawbreaker, criminal, and murderer.

Just a few hours ago, at an end-of-the-year press conference, Vladmir Putin said of Ukraine: ``Everything is coming from the West, but the free things will run out some day, and it seems it is already happening.''

In other words, Putin is saying the West is retreating from the defense of freedom, and the seats in this body are empty.

There is nothing that Putin and the rest of the axis of evil likes to see more than our Congress divided, our country divided, and our coalition divided. We must not give them that satisfaction.

If we neglect to send these resources without condition and without delay, we fail not only the people of Ukraine, but the people of Israel and the people in Palestine, to whom we want to give relief and humanitarian aid.

We fail the America envisioned by our Founding Fathers, a Nation with the courage to stand up to forces of empire and despotism. We fall short of the principles they enshrined in our founding documents, the very same documents that President Zelenskyy made his pilgrimage to a few months ago.

Mr. Speaker, when we return to the Capitol on January 9, each Member of this Congress will face a choice. Will we, as Zelenskyy said, allow freedom to be brought to its knees or, Mr. Speaker, will we be standing strong, standing united against the evil empire.

Regrettably, the seats are empty today.

Every week, every day, every hour we fail to act, we risk allowing the enemies of freedom to make that decision for us. We must not let that happen.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the distinguished public service and career of a hardworking, talented, and principled Marylander from my district: Mrs. Michelle Y. Cromwell. I thank her for her 43 years of dedicated service with the Department of Defense, more specifically, the Department of the Army from December 29, 1980, to December 31, 2023. Throughout her career, Mrs. Cromwell has served the Department of the Army faithfully and personified the Army's values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. As the Chief of the Congressional Inquiry Division within the Office of the Chief, Legislative Liaison (OCLL), Mrs. Cromwell worked with many Congressional offices on a wide variety of Army issues and programs with the

highest degree of professionalism and outstanding resourcefulness. We all ought to recognize and celebrate her many accomplishments.

Mrs. Cromwell began her career working for OCLL's Congressional Inquiry Division on December 29, 1980, as a Clerk Typist. Mrs. Cromwell has served in many positions within the Congressional Inquiry Division, including a two-year stint in the Senate Liaison Division on Capitol Hill. She has worked her entire federal career in the OCLL, supporting and responding to countless inquiries from Members of Congress and their staffers, the Army Senior Leader, and constituents. Mrs. Cromwell has also helped with the release of Army contract and casualty announcements to Congress, ensuring the needs of contractors, civilians, soldiers, and their families were met. Additionally, she was tasked with several special missions directly supporting the Secretary of the Army. From these successes she was ultimately promoted to Chief of the Congressional Inquiry Division in 2018. During her tenure, Mrs. Cromwell has guided the division and organization through numerous major events.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Cromwell has loyally served the Department of the Army throughout the Cold War, Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Noble Eagle, the September 11, 2001 tragedy, Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Freedom's Sentinel. For her indelible contributions to our country, Mrs. Cromwell received the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, Superior Civilian Service Award, Commander's Award for Civilian Service, and the Civilian Service Achievement Medal. She did not serve because she wanted awards and accolades, however. She served because she believed in the vital importance of her work.

Mrs. Cromwell has been an invaluable asset to our government, our men and women in uniform, and the American people. Although many will be sad to see her departure, she deserves a long and happy retirement. As she starts this next chapter, I wish her, her husband Stewart, her two sons, and the rest of their family and friends well. I am certain that all my fellow Members of the House will join me in thanking Mrs. Michelle Cromwell for her commitment and contributions to our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, we have less than 10 hours left until we go home for the holidays, less than 10 hours when we leave the field, and less than 10 hours before we act responsibly.

The men and women of Ukraine will not go home for the holidays. They will not leave the lines in eastern Ukraine. They will not have a Christmas dinner without the fear that they will be bombed in Kyiv or assaulted in eastern Ukraine.

Why is that?

I ask that to both Chambers: Why are we going home and leaving our Ukrainian allies unarmed?

Why do we shrink from our responsibility to confront those who would undermine democracy, freedom, and international law?

Why, Mr. Speaker, do we retreat from the field while our Ukrainian allies are at risk?

Mr. Speaker, we have 1 day left. We can accomplish the goal of passing Ukrainian dollars.

We can achieve the goal of giving aid to our ally, Israel.

We can achieve the goal of making Taiwan a little bit stronger.

Or we can send a message to Mr. Putin, to Mr. Xi, to Iran, and to Hamas that America is unable to stay the course.

I am told that the reason we can't do that is because it is absolutely essential to have border security addressed. It is. I am for doing that.

Nevertheless, I want to call to the Speaker's attention, so that he can remember that in the 115th Congress, as a Member of Congress, he cosponsored a bill, H.R. 395. Some others cosponsored that bill who may be at least hearing me, Mr. Speaker, or maybe even on the floor. That bill said that it was incumbent that we ``end the practice of including more than one subject in a single bill by requiring that each bill enacted by Congress be limited to only one subject.''

Was that situational ethics, situational principles, or just temporary principles to be thrown away when they are not convenient, perhaps?

That bill was sponsored by Speaker Johnson; by Mr. Meadows who became Chief of Staff of Donald Trump; by Mr. Emmer, the majority whip; and by Mr. DeSantis, candidate for President. It was a temporary, perhaps just political, piece of rhetoric.

Mr. Speaker, America is better than that. America needs to be a more reliable ally than that. America needs to create confidence, not undermine confidence. America needs to be reliable. America needs to confront the criminality, the venality, and the murderous acts of Vladimir Putin.

Yet we are scheduled to go home in just a few hours.

John Kennedy wrote a book, ``Why England Slept.'' It was about why they thought that Hitler was going to stop. It just involved, after all, the mainland, not England, and they paid a terrible price for that negligence, and the free world paid a terrible price for that negligence.

Mr. Speaker, let us not go home, let us do our duty, and let us be the kind of America that we say we are.

Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, I thank her for taking this Special Order, and I thank her for the extraordinary work she has put in over the years.

Madam Speaker, President Zelenskyy, a brave leader of a determined people who are defending their democracy and international law, warned us today that the resources we sent his people in their fight for freedom have run out. Two legislative days remain to deliver urgent aid to Ukraine and to Israel. If we leave town on Thursday, then we will have to wait 1 month until we get another opportunity. Our allies cannot afford the wait. Neither can we.

Our failure sends a dangerous message to the world about our commitment to freedom, democracy, and international law. Each week we see: reluctance over resolve. Each day: doubt over determination. Each hour: division over decisiveness. Each minute: contention over conviction.

Our allies watch in dismay and our adversaries watch in delight as the beacon of democracy that is America dims in the face of the gathering storm. Instead, we must ensure that freedom's holy light continues to burn bright. Winston Churchill understood that, Volodymyr Zelenskyy understands that, and most Members understand that.

There is also an overwhelming consensus to support Israel in its imperative mission to defeat Hamas and ensure the devastating attacks on October 7 never occur again. If we do not pay the price of freedom with money and material now, then we may well pay for it with American blood and lives later. We ought to be thankful that we have that choice. Our allies do not.

Madam Speaker, I just read a story about a Ukrainian de-miner who lost his leg while clearing Russian mines on September 22. He is now out doing the same thing on his prosthetic leg. He risked life and limb, and he volunteered to do so again. The sacrifice this Congress must make pales in comparison.

Madam Speaker, I think of the mother in western Ukraine I just read about who lost two sons. The burden we must bear does not compare to theirs.

A significant majority of this House remains, as has been said by Republicans and Democrats, united in our determination to see Ukraine prevail. We came here not as Democrats or as Republicans, but as people who recognize this threat for what it is, an existential one.

We are the majority in this House. Until the Speaker gives us a clean vote, however, we cannot act on this consensus.

Madam Speaker, the Speaker introduced a bill in the 115th Congress that said one subject per bill. The Speaker must follow that premise that he asked us to support.

I urge the Speaker not to allow an important but unrelated goal to prevent us from doing what is necessary to achieve a victory for our own national security and the security of the free world.

Politics should stop at the water's edge because this sort of partisanship emboldens the enemies of freedom to set their sights on our own shores. Rather than sending the despots and dictators of the world a signal of retreat, let's send them a clear and unambiguous message that we will not shrink from this challenge. Our inaction is not worthy of the land of the free and the home of the brave. America is better than that.

Mr. Speaker, there are 4 legislative days left in 2023.

Yesterday, I spoke from the well about the need to provide critical aid to Ukraine and Israel--just as I did the week before, just as I did the month before, just as I will continue to do until we act.

All Congress has to show for it is a failed vote in the Senate yesterday.

Representative Dusty Johnson recently said that there is ``a strong majority of lawmakers in both the House and the Senate that understand this world is a lot more dangerous when America recedes from leadership. Clearly, we want to help our allies like Israel and Ukraine.''

The Speaker should heed the words of his Republican colleague. He refuses to give us a clean vote. The world becomes more dangerous. It must stop.

Mr. Speaker, I will continue until we act.

There are 300 votes on this floor for Ukraine and over 400 votes for Israel, yet we are unable to vote. That is a shame for our country.

Mr. Speaker, we are fiddling while freedom burns. We have 5 legislative days left to aid our allies, Israel and Ukraine.

Each hour we wait makes it harder for our allies to defend freedom and democracy against tyrants and terrorists.

OMB Director Shalanda Young made it clear this week that the past resources we secured for Ukraine have run out.

As Speaker Johnson said in Florida, Putin won't stop in Ukraine. He will continue to devour territory and undermine democracy until he is stopped.

My Republican colleagues ask what the plan is in Ukraine and Israel. The plan is to win. The plan is to defeat Putin. The plan is to vanquish terrorism generally and Hamas in particular.

Most Members agree on that plan--300 on Ukraine and 400 on Israel. I urge the Speaker to give us the opportunity to act on that consensus now. Freedom demands it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my friend Linda Lamone: Maryland's longest-serving Elections Administrator and the second-longest-serving chief elections official in America. In September, she retired after overseeing our elections for more than a quarter century. Linda is a woman of tremendous vision, integrity, and reverence for our democratic institutions, and we appreciate her outstanding service.

After serving Marylanders for decades as a Counsel to the Maryland State Assembly, the Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Schaefer's legislative office, a private attorney, and an Assistant Attorney General under Governor Glendening, Linda started as Elections Administrator in 1997. She oversaw 13 federal general elections, including six presidential elections, over the course of her impressive career.

Linda started the role at a pivotal moment for American elections. New digital technologies offered new opportunities to enhance our electoral system. Around the same time, the 2000 presidential election revealed how vulnerabilities in our elections can undermine the American people's faith in our democracy. That experience led me and a bipartisan group of Members to pass the Help America Vote Act to keep our elections secure, accessible, and transparent.

Linda was instrumental in helping the Election Assistance Commission and I implement HAVA in Maryland and beyond. From modernizing and standardizing our state's voting machines to digitizing campaign finance and voter registration resources, Linda brought our elections into the twenty-first century. She helped other states make progress in these areas through her involvement with the National Association of State Election Directors.

Linda also helped our state and our democracy weather unprecedented crises. She led the effort to ensure that Marylanders could vote safely in the 2020 election during the Covid-19 pandemic. She also sought to maintain Americans' faith in their democratic system amid a wave of election denialism. We were fortunate to have Linda's leadership in 2020 and all the years before and since.

No matter the task at hand or the challenge before her, Linda tackled it with determination. She always knew that she could count on the support of her family--especially her husband of 53 years, Rudy. As Dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park, and as a prominent academic and entrepreneur, Rudy was another crucial leader in our community. We all mourned with Linda when he passed away earlier this year, and we continue to keep him in our prayers.

As Linda brings her career to a close, we find ourselves at another pivotal moment for American elections. We see leaders openly cast doubt on the outcome of free and fair elections. Some people deliberately try to erode our electoral system and other democratic institutions. Linda Lamone serves as an example of the countless hardworking, principled elections officials across the country who help uphold our democracy in the face of these threats. Their work isn't easy, but it is absolutely essential.

I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Linda and the democratic principles she devoted her career to protecting.

Mr. Speaker, many years ago there was a rule adopted called the Holman rule. It allows the arbitrary and capricious cutting of a salary if you don't agree with what the person does. It is somewhat like if the Speaker of the House, who didn't like a vote of one of the Members, could cut their salary to $1. Now, there are a number of citizens who would probably like that, but in fact it would be unfair, capricious, and undermining of our democracy.

Punishing someone for a difference of opinion is the antithesis of American democracy. For years, however, Republicans have made it their policy to vilify Federal workers. The Holman rule is their tool of choice. They use it as an instrument of political vengeance to cut the salaries of specific Federal officials who don't share their partisan agenda; not for misfeasance or malfeasance, but because they didn't agree.

In the past 2 months, Republicans used the Holman rule to advance 64 amendments targeting individual Federal workers. Fifty-five of those were voted on. Two were withdrawn, and all 53 were defeated. What it is is essentially pandering to their rightwing, to allow their rightwing to pretend that they are doing policy. Every one of them has been defeated by over 250 votes.

They have wasted over 9 hours of floor time on these pointless amendments, time that we could have and should have spent funding our government, time that we should have spent funding Ukraine, our ally, which is under siege from a dictator who has broken international law. Yet, we vote on reducing salaries to $1. How capricious.

They are about settling political vendettas. It is sheer, petty, and irrational political posturing.

Among those Federal officials singled out were the FDA officials tasked with ensuring the safety of America's medicine and food. There was no finding that they weren't doing that properly. It was just because they didn't like the policy.

Others were Federal employees who administer crucial food assistance programs and other services upon which American people rely.

Mr. Speaker, Republicans also took aim at DOD, Homeland Security, cybersecurity, and infrastructure security agencies. These men and women are in charge of promoting military readiness, gathering vital intelligence, and protecting our national security. There were no arguments that they weren't performing those services. It was that Republicans didn't like the policies.

Trying to eliminate their pay signals to America and to the world that their essential work, their services don't matter. It also gives the answer to what Texas Congressman Chip Roy said, that the Republicans have not done anything. Chip Roy, a Republican, a conservative.

Republicans attack Federal employees only to advance extreme policies that are out of step with the American people, from restricting reproductive care to undermining diversity and inclusion efforts. Their vindictive behavior is nothing new.

In 2017, House Republicans tried using the Holman rule to eliminate one-third of the Congressional Budget Office's staff, a nonpartisan, impartial agency. Why? It was because they didn't like the scores their bills were receiving. They didn't say they were wrong, but they said they didn't like them, and they had a way to go beyond them to fund projects they wanted to fund or policies they wanted to pursue.

The people responsible for government oversight and transparency should not have to face reprisals for their thorough and objective work. That is no way to run a country. No business on Earth would conduct itself in this way. No employer that threatens to cut its employees' pay to $1 on a whim can expect to recruit and retain top talent. They would simply walk out the door, and properly so.

The Holman rule is not only vindictive, as I said, but it endangers our democracy and our separation of powers. It is part of the politics of vindictiveness, the so-called revenge tour President Trump promises to unleash on

America. It is just another way he and his followers can, in his own words, and I quote Mr. Trump: ``root out the . . . radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country.''

What kind of rhetoric is that? What kind of objective is that for somebody who might responsibly be the head of the greatest government on Earth?

Though these amendments have no chance of becoming law, we must not ignore them.

They force our Government to serve the political interests of their authors.

Instead, we must allow our Government to serve the people.

Thank you, and I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, we have less than 3 weeks scheduled in the remainder of this year for us to act.

We have less than 3 weeks to secure aid for Israel and Ukraine before we return to our districts in December.

They cannot afford that time. Each day we wait, winter grows colder in Ukraine. Each day we sit on our hands, American and Israeli hostages in Gaza become more fearful that they have been forgotten, as do their families.

Each day we idle, our allies sacrifice more lives in their fight against tyranny and terror. Each day we fail to act, America's reputation as the world's greatest defender of freedom and democracy decays.

Inaction suggests to our friends and foes alike that our Congress chooses doubt over determination, reluctance over resolve, and contention over conviction. We embolden those assaulting democracy in Israel, Ukraine, and elsewhere to set their sights on the rest of the free world, including our own shores.

We must not project uncertainty in our willingness to oppose despots and international terrorists. Securing this supplemental aid without condition and without delay needs to be this House's priority.

I have served in Congress for over 42 years, including 28 years in the leadership. In that time, I have seen Democrats and Republicans work together to defend democracy and further freedom.

Earlier this year, I went with former Speaker McCarthy to meet with Israeli leaders to reaffirm our vital U.S.-Israel relationship. I worked with him to preserve the overwhelming bipartisan support our Congress has had for Israel for the past 75 years, just as I did with past Republican leaders.

Now, Mr. Speaker, we come together in solidarity as Vladimir Putin threatens freedom, democracy, international law, and the lives of Ukrainians.

A few years ago, I stood with Republicans in Kyiv's Independence Square to lay wreaths for the prodemocracy protesters who were gunned down there during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. Republicans also joined me on my codel to Ukraine's border just last year.

When I met with President Zelenskyy and House leaders on both sides of the aisle in September in this House, we expressed our unanimous commitment to Ukraine's cause, to America's cause, to freedom's cause.

We saw that same bipartisanship on the House floor in recent weeks when some 75 percent of us voted to approve additional funding for Ukraine. All seven times, perhaps eight times if you count a couple of bills, that issue came up for consideration, 75 percent of us voted for Ukraine's funding.

We ought to act on the strong consensus that exists in this body to deliver aid for Israel and Ukraine now, today, perhaps tomorrow, but certainly very soon.

Neither dysfunction nor disagreement ought to undermine that effort. Victory is our objective; delay is our enemy.

I have spoken with Israeli and Ukrainian leaders. I have met with officials from NATO partners and other allies. I have talked with the families of American hostages held captive by Hamas and Gaza. Their question is the same: Is America still willing to pay the price of freedom? Our answer, Mr. Speaker, and the answer of America must be yes. Now.

We must send a deafening message to our friends and to the enemies of freedom and democracy. We will defend our allies and our shared values, not only in the next few days, but in all the days to come.

Mr. Speaker, it is time to act. It is time to act without condition. Ukraine needs us, Israel needs us, and freedom, democracy, and international law need us.

Let us act now.

Mr. Speaker, this is a time of sadness, of wrenching pain, of anger, and of determination.

It is my solemn duty, Mr. Speaker, to speak on this floor today about a courageous, talented, and generous young man, Itay Chen. His family is in the gallery. I had the opportunity to speak to them just a few minutes ago. As any family would be, knowing that their child is at great risk and not knowing his present welfare, they are grieving but determined.

Itay is an American-Israeli dual citizen bravely serving his nation in the IDF.

That is probably incorrect. This is his nation. IDF is the land of his forebears and of his ancestors and a land that offers sanctuary and safety to the Jewish people who have been savaged, hated, killed, and maligned for millennia.

On October 7, Itay was taken hostage during Hamas' brutal criminal and savage attack on Israel and on innocent civilians in the land that is not contested by anybody.

Itay is only 19 years old. Mr. Speaker, I have not met Itay, though I hope to do so in person in the near future. However, I met with his father, Ruby, who is with us in the gallery today, as I said, and his mother, Hagit, is joining us, as well.

Mr. Speaker, everything I have heard about their son has only reinforced my resolve to help bring Itay home and the other hostages home, as well.

Itay was raised in New York City, the city in which I was born, Mr. Speaker. He was always a precocious kid and a kindhearted young man. Like his dad, he is an avid lover of basketball. Unlike his dad, however, he is a diehard Lakers fan. So, there is a little conflict in the family, but that has not affected the deep love and concern that his family has for Itay.

I want to assure them, Mr. Speaker, that is shared by the 435 Members of this body. It is not a partisan issue but a human issue.

Itay may not have inherited his father's basketball loyalties, Mr. Speaker, but he did inherit his New York grit. Itay also developed a calling for service at a very young age, participating in Boy Scouts and serving his community. That commitment to serving others drove Itay to join the IDF.

I know his experience in captivity, as awful as it is. Very frankly, Mr. Speaker, the Red Cross has seen the horror of how these hostages are being kept, and they ought to tell the world that truth. Nevertheless, we know that his experience will not break his generous spirit nor his dedication to the sacred Jewish principle of tikkun olam, repairing the world and doing good so that others may do better.

His parents, Ruby and Hagit; his brothers, Roy and Alon; and the rest of his family and friends continue to show tremendous resilience and courage. We can do no less in the Congress, no less in the White House, and no less in America than make sure we bring this American home alive and healthy.

I think, Mr. Speaker, how I would feel if one of my three daughters or one of my three grandchildren or one of my four great-grandchildren were in some tunnel or crevice illegally and criminally. I would do everything I could to get them back, and we must do everything to get back not only Itay but all those pictures that we will see of innocent people killed, maimed, and taken hostage by a criminal group we call Hamas.

I want Itay and his loved ones to know that we are going to make sure this Congress does everything it can to bring him and the other hostages home as quickly as possible. Mr. Speaker, as a symbol of that promise, I am wearing a dog tag that Ruby gave me just weeks ago.

Until they return safely to our shores, we will continue to stand strong with their families. Their grief is our grief. Their hope is our hope, and that hope grows with every hostage released. It will not end until they are all home, safe in the arms of their families and loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for taking this Special Order and for yielding to me.