Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I have been hearing from so many constituents in northern Virginia about the Office of Personnel Management. That is because there are 16,000 retirement claims pending at OPM, and a lot of them are my constituents.

We were making progress towards reducing that backlog. Then what happened? DOGE and this administration came in and started indiscriminately firing OPM employees. This even included the congressional liaisons who help our offices resolve retirement issues for Federal retirees.

I have heard directly from my constituents who spent their careers serving this country. These folks are now waiting months or even years for their retirement benefits that they earned. This backlog directly impacts their ability to pay their bills, remain financially stable, and live with dignity.

Our constituents are paying the price, and we are hearing about it. Let's inject some common sense and fix this process instead of firing key staff for short-term savings.

Mr. Speaker, our kids, our seniors, and constituents deserve to live healthy, prosperous, and independent lives. That is why I spoke with hundreds of my constituents at a Medicaid townhall this past weekend, since most of them depend on Medicaid to live fulfilling lives with dignity.

The impacts of the $880 billion in cuts being proposed to Medicaid are not statistics. They are children, parents, educators, and grandparents. They are our neighbors and our friends.

I heard from a father whose son was almost institutionalized. He was getting ready to quit his job to take care of his son full time. Instead, his son got access to care through Medicaid, which allowed the father to continue running his nonprofit, which was helping adults with intellectual disabilities.

I listened to a grandparent of two intellectually disabled kids who has been their legal guardian for 15 years now. With the help of Medicaid, both children are living independently. Yet, with these cuts, they may face medication bills of $7,000 per month and be forced to move back in with their grandparents.

I heard from a nurse who shared that 40 percent of the births in her hospital are covered by Medicaid, including prenatal, maternal, and postpartum care. That is what supporting families and family values looks like.

A speech language pathologist at a title I school told me that most of her students are on Medicaid. They rely on it for free and reduced school lunches, and students with disabilities rely on it for their education.

Mr. Speaker, let's look at the facts. Medicaid supports 1.8 million Virginians, and hundreds of thousands of them would lose their Medicaid access because a 1 percent cut in the Federal Government's contribution to Virginia's Medicaid program will mean everyone from Medicaid expansion loses their Medicaid.

There are 3 in 10 children who are on Medicaid, 2 in 7 working-age adults with disabilities are on Medicaid, and 5 in 8 nursing home residents are on Medicaid.

Medicaid is also the fourth largest Federal funding source of our public schools. It provides mental health services. It ensures kids with disabilities get what they need. In 43 States, including Virginia, it also provides access to free and reduced-priced school meals.

There are over 37 million children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, in the United States. These are the most vulnerable people in the country who stand to lose the most from these deep funding cuts.

If my colleagues want to talk about fiscal responsibility, cuts to Medicaid will mean less preventative care, more costly emergency room visits, and much higher costs for treating preventable diseases and illnesses. That will increase premiums and costs for every single American, even those with private insurance, those who are not on Medicaid. Everyone will be affected by these cuts.

Yet, we hear that these cuts won't touch Medicaid, but that is not true. Just look at the math. It is the only way to make these cuts.

Medicaid is a lifeline. It is not a line item that can be blindly chopped to pay for a partisan wish list of bad ideas and tax cuts for the biggest corporations. In the richest country in the world, we should be working to cure diseases, explore new medical technologies, and expand Medicaid, not cutting off basic care.

Mr. Speaker, our kids, our seniors, and our communities deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, to the more than 3.8 million educators across the country, I wish you a happy National Teacher Appreciation Day.

I know our teachers work tirelessly to provide our students with an education that opens the door to opportunity, and I am sure everyone in this body can think of a teacher that profoundly impacted their lives.

Despite working long hours, without a salary that reflects the work they do, our teachers in Virginia have made sure that Virginia schools consistently rank high in the country for K-12 performance, test scores, and even safety. Over 92 percent of our students here in Virginia graduate high school in 4 years, and we have amazing teachers to thank for that.

We need to make sure our teachers are being paid what they are worth, have the support they need in the classroom, and have access to all the resources they need to do their jobs.

Happy National Teacher Appreciation Day to all the teachers out there.

Madam Speaker, I regret that I was not present to vote on Roll Call No. 115. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 115.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of International Firefighters Day to honor the brave firefighters in Virginia and around the world.

Virginia is home to thousands of dedicated firefighters who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe.

Whether it is battling wildfires, responding to plane crashes, or kitchen fires, firefighters are always there to answer the call.

International Firefighters Day is also a solemn reminder of those we have lost in the line of duty. Just last year, our community lost one of our own, Firefighter Trevor Brown, a husband and father of three from Sterling. He passed away responding to an emergency gas leak call. His sacrifice, like that of many others, is a testament to the courage that firefighters display daily, running into danger to keep us safe.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the fighters in Virginia and around the world for their service. Because of them we are safer and stronger and our communities are more prosperous.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recent Valor Award winners and honorees from Fauquier County, individuals who embody courage and service.

Sponsored by the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce, the Valor Awards highlight the critical work local law enforcement and first responders do every day to keep our communities safe.

Among this year's Lifetime Achievement Awards was Warrenton Police Chief Tim Carter. A native of Fauquier County, Chief Carter has served his hometown as a police officer, corporal, detective sergeant, lieutenant, and deputy chief before becoming police chief in 2023.

Also recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award was retired fire chief Dale Koglin. Chief Koglin served the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Company for 62 years, first joining when he was only 14 years old.

Another award went to Sergeant John Larson, who donated a portion of his liver to a child after screenings said he was a good match.

George Scheulen was honored for his courageous service as a platoon leader in the Army.

To the Valor Award winners and honorees, and to those who work to keep our communities safe every day, I thank them for their service.

Mr. Speaker, for years now, we have heard a lot of false accusations about rigged elections and voter fraud.

For instance, despite accusations that noncitizens were casting ballots in Virginia, studies found that there were zero instances of noncitizens illegally voting over the past 20 years.

Let's be honest, these accusations erode public trust and threaten our democracy.

Some localities are stepping up to fight those accusations. Two of those localities in my district are Prince William County and Fairfax County, which recently won the U.S. Election Assistance Commission's Clearinghouse Awards, or the Clearies.

Prince William County, in particular, was the first county to publish voting result tapes online in Virginia history. They are not only saving the results, but they are publishing them.

Here is the truth: In Prince William County, Fairfax County, and counties all across the country, officials are working tirelessly to ensure our elections are safe and secure. That is accountability, transparency, and democracy in action.

I congratulate Prince William and Fairfax Counties on their awards, and I look forward to working with them and fighting false allegations about our elections.

Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon

Mr. Speaker, today marks the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon.

Thousands of Vietnamese families escaped during the war, coming to America, and Virginia, in search of safety, opportunity, and a new life. There are now over 2.3 million Vietnamese Americans in the U.S.

Many Vietnamese-American families call Virginia home, and Vietnamese Americans have become an integral part of our community, from public service and the arts to groundbreaking work in science, business, and education.

I am proud of the work being done to support Vietnamese refugees right here in Virginia.

One example is Boat People SOS, an organization founded to help Vietnamese refugees. They have rescued over 25,000 Vietnamese boat people. Since then, they have expanded their services to aid immigrants, refugees, victims of trafficking, disadvantaged students, and survivors of violence in the United States.

Today, I recognize the strength, courage, and spirit of the Vietnamese community in Virginia's 10th District

and across the country, and I say to our Vietnamese veterans: Welcome home.

Cuts to CASA Programs

Mr. Speaker, we have heard how the recent DOGE cuts are impacting Federal employees, seniors, and veterans, but these cuts are also impacting our children, particularly vulnerable children.

Recently, the Department of Justice announced the termination of Federal grants to support court-appointed special advocates, known as CASA programs.

CASA programs cultivate trained and appointed volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children in the courtroom and beyond.

The children they serve often need to be removed from unsafe homes and placed in foster care. At a time when they need it most, the volunteers provide a voice for these children.

Fairfax County's CASA program, for instance, has served over 8,500 kids in our region, including 376 in this fiscal year. They do incredible work to help place children in permanent homes and set them on a path for a brighter future.

The funding CASA receives from the Victims of Crime Act is now on the chopping block. These cuts will put a strain on already stretched thin court-appointed special advocate teams in Virginia and around the country. The result? More vulnerable children with less support.

We must stop these cuts and fight to protect the children that these programs serve.

Opposing Cuts to Public Media System

Mr. Speaker, finally, I rise today to address the administration's efforts to dismantle a cornerstone of American speech, our public media system.

The administration is calling on Congress to rescind appropriations for PBS and NPR, two public media institutions that have served Americans for nearly 60 years.

Each month, 36 million people watch their local PBS stations. PBS KIDS averages 15.5 million monthly users, including my kids. More broadly, PBS and NPR tell the American story through arts, culture, and history programs.

Let's be clear: This is not about budget cuts or making government efficient. This is a gutting of an institution that many people, especially those living in rural areas, rely on for information and trusted programming. In regions with limited or no broadcast access, PBS and NPR are among the few sources of media that people have to stay informed.

The administration argues that this move is necessary to prevent America's culture from being reengineered. Make no mistake: Cutting public media doesn't preserve our culture. It silences local voices, weakens civic engagement and education, and strips away the resources that help children learn.

Mr. Speaker, we must oppose these cuts.

Mr. Speaker, to Sikhs both in America and around the world, I wish everyone a happy Vaisakhi.

For those who don't know, Vaisakhi marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is a momentous occasion in the Sikh community.

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of joining the Sikh Center of Virginia to celebrate in Manassas, Virginia. The event brought together community leaders, local leaders, and elected officials, signifying the strength of our growing Sikh community in northern Virginia and across the country.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing to partner with our Sikh Americans here in Virginia and all across the country as we celebrate Vaisakhi this year.

Due Process for Fannie Mae Employees

Mr. Speaker, I rise out of concern today over the recent firings at Fannie Mae, firings that have impacted many of my constituents, especially in the Indian-American community, constituents who have been dedicated employees for years with exemplary performance reviews.

Without any advance notice, these employees received word of their termination over alleged fraud and ethics violations. I spoke to many of them, and they said that they were fired for contributing to Indian- American-run charities. Yet, some of them didn't even contribute to those charities at all or were encouraged to donate to those charities.

There was no investigation, no due process, and no chance to correct the record or provide their side of the story. Employees simply received a we-will-get-back-to-you message when they contacted HR. Without a proper and official investigation, I am concerned that these firings are another pretext for making indiscriminate cuts to our workforce in northern Virginia.

If these employees were targeted because they are Indian American, national origin being a legally protected class, then that might have been illegal and unconstitutional, as well.

Mr. Speaker, I demand answers to understand why these terminations really took place, and we are going to continue to put pressure until we get those answers.

Sharing of Classified and Sensitive Information

Mr. Speaker, I rise today out of grave concern over our leadership at the Pentagon right now. In just a few short months, the Department of Defense has been overtaken by chaos because of Secretary Hegseth's leadership.

Mr. Speaker, classified and sensitive information is being shared over Signal. The Secretary has a nonsecure internet line in his office. Seemingly every day, there is a new story about firings, backstabbing, and so-called shake-ups in the highest levels of leadership.

This leadership is not making our country or our troops safer, but don't take it from me. I have had many veterans and military families reach out to me. One military parent is so scared that the sharing of classified information over nonsecure channels will put their son at risk.

She wrote to me:

That our Nation's top Defense officials shared sensitive

troop movements over a commercial social media platform,

without verifying who was on the other end, is not only

reckless, it is terrifying. Our servicemembers and their

families deserve leaders who treat their safety with the

gravity it demands. This breach not only endangers lives

but erodes the trust of those who serve and support our

military. My son has sworn to defend this country. I expect

the same level of responsibility and integrity from those in

charge.

Another constituent pointed out the hypocrisy of the administration claiming that they did nothing wrong in using Signal for these discussions.

That person said:

For 18 years, I have lived a life most people will never

understand. My promise to defend this Nation does not stop

when I clock out. It permeates every single aspect of my

life. It affects who I marry, who I live with, who I date,

who I am friends with, and who I speak to. I would be sitting

in jail right now if I had done something as brazen,

thoughtless, and dangerous as what Secretary Hegseth, among

others, did.

That is from military families and military people serving today.

Not only is this a failure of our national security, but it is an embarrassment for the United States. Our allies will be less willing to share intelligence with us if Secretary Hegseth might share it with his family, his poker buddies, or whoever else he thinks it would be neat to loop in.

Our servicemembers deserve better, and the American people deserve better. That is why I reiterate my demand to make sure we have change at the Secretary of Defense level and in the Pentagon.

Mr. Speaker, $880 billion, that is how much Medicaid funding is on the chopping block. Medicaid funding provides lifesaving care for millions of Americans.

Medicaid is America's healthcare safety net. Without it, hospitals operating on thin margins will close, medical debt will skyrocket, and kids across the country will suffer.

Americans on Medicaid are your grandparents, your neighbors, your friends, and they are at risk because of these cuts. Virginians, in particular, are vulnerable because even if 1 percent of Federal funding of Medicaid is cut, 600,000 Virginians will lose their

Medicaid expansion coverage. This means pregnant women, babies, kids with disabilities, and our most vulnerable neighbors will lose coverage.

These cuts will make us less healthy and they will make us less prosperous and less safe. Even if you are not on Medicaid, emergency rooms will be overwhelmed with uninsured patients and your premiums and healthcare costs will go up, as well.

Mr. Speaker, every American should speak out against these cuts to Medicaid.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the President posted on social media: ``This is a great time to buy.'' Then, shortly after that, he paused his tariff plan, the very one that sent markets into a tailspin.

The market bounced back, although it is down again, and the President celebrated in the Oval Office with top financial executives. They celebrated at whose expense? The parents who watched their kids' college savings accounts get depleted, the retirees who rely on their investments to carry them through their remaining years, and the small business owners, including many in my district, who don't know how to plan and don't know how to keep the lights on at this point.

This wreaked havoc on millions of Americans, and those Americans also deserve to know about what happened and who profited off of it.

Did the financial executives know about what was going to happen? Did the President's donors know? Who knew and who profited from this ``great time to buy'' tweet and everything that was leading up to it?

We need a full investigation into what happened and who profited from it. The American people deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Mr. Keith H. Johnson. As Chief Keith Johnson prepares to retire this month, I rise to honor his distinguished career and service to the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue System.

Chief Johnson is a fourth-generation firefighter who began his fire service in 1982. His career led him to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, where he ascended to the rank of Deputy Chief in 2009. After more than 30 years of service in Fairfax County, Chief Johnson was appointed as the Assistant Chief of Operations with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and, later, the Chief of the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue System in 2018. He possesses both Fire Inspector and Fire Investigator certifications with the Virginia Department of Fire Programs.

During his tenure, he led a department of nearly 500 career and more than 1,500 volunteer personnel, oversaw the implementation of a collective bargaining ordinance, created a 24 hour Operational Shift Commander program, and formed a behavioral health section. He also advocated for benefits and protections to include increased behavioral health benefits and cancer protections for first responders, as well as for the inclusion of fire sprinkler systems in residential homes.

Chief Johnson was recently named the Career Fire Chief of the Year in 2024. He continues to serve as Chair of the Governor's appointed Virginia Fire Services and on Virginia's Board of Housing and Community Development.

Congratulations to Chief Johnson on an exceptional career. I thank him for decades of service to our community, and I wish him well in his retirement.

Mr. Speaker, as Chief Keith Johnson prepares to retire this month, I rise to honor his distinguished career in service to Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System.

Beloved in our Loudoun County community, Chief Johnson is a fourth- generation firefighter who began his fire service in 1982. His career led him to the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department where he ascended to the rank of deputy chief in 2009.

After 30 years in Fairfax County, Chief Johnson was appointed as chief of the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System in 2018. During his tenure, he led a department of nearly 500 career personnel and more than 1,500 volunteer personnel, oversaw the implementation of a collective bargaining ordinance, created a 24-hour operation shift commander program, and formed a behavioral health section. To cap off his career, Chief Johnson was named Career Fire Chief of the Year in 2024.

Congratulations to Chief Johnson on his exceptional career. We thank Chief Johnson for all his service to our community, and we wish him a happy retirement.

Celebrating Independence High School Varsity Winter Guard's 2025

Scholastic State Championship

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Independence High School Varsity Winter Guard's 2025 scholastic State championship.

This year, their hard work and perseverance paid off. Not only did they place first in their class but they also received the highest overall score out of 60 Virginia high schools that competed.

They made history as the first Loudoun County public high school to ever win a Scholastic A1. I also heard the team's stuffed animal mascot, Thleebuss, deserves a little bit of credit.

We congratulate Coach Harrington, Coach Young, the Winter Guard, and the Independence High School community on their championship.

Honoring Richard Martin on his 700th Platelet Donation

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Richard Martin of Sterling, Virginia, who reached a remarkable milestone last month, his 700th platelet donation. This isn't just a number. It represents lives saved and hope restored.

Richard's journey began in 1982, inspired by his father who donated an incredible 17 gallons of whole blood. For over four decades, Richard has visited his local blood donation clinic every 2 weeks. He is a familiar face to the staff, always bringing his cheerful demeanor and unwavering commitment to the cause.

Today, we celebrate Richard's altruistic spirit and dedication as a platelet donor. He is a shining example of what it means to serve one's neighbors and community.

Honoring the Life of Chandrashekar Namagondlu

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Chandrashekar Namagondlu. A devoted husband, father, son, and brother, Chandra was the embodiment of joy and a well-lived life. He was a pillar of every community and organization that he was a part of.

He began his career as a network engineer before transitioning into cybersecurity. Over the past 20 years at Visa, he rose to become director of cybersecurity, where he not only was a respected leader but a beloved manager and colleague known for his generosity, mentorship, and unwavering support.

Most of all, his love for his family was insurmountable and deeply felt by all of those he cared for, especially his wife Sreelatha and his daughter, Priya. His memory will live on with those that were touched by his presence.

Protecting Economic Independence

Mr. Speaker, I rise today less than 1 week after the administration proclaimed April 2 as Liberation Day, a day filled with tariffs that sparked a trade war.

What sort of liberation have we seen since then? In my district alone,

wineries in Warrenton, Virginia, a rural town just down the road, may have to close. A small perfume business, which can only import materials from the U.K., is bracing for skyrocketing costs.

Breweries in my district are being hit. The owner of one small Virginia brewery said that because of tariffs on his aluminum, steel, and other ingredients, they have to raise the price of a six-pack to $19.

The President proclaimed Liberation Day as a declaration of economic independence, but this is doing nothing to protect the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The only thing these tariffs will liberate are rent money and mortgage payments from bank accounts, kids' college savings from investment accounts, and retirement savings from 401k's.

It is not too late to change course and declare Liberation Day as a poorly constructed April Fools' joke.

Mr. Speaker, let's take a step back and be clear on what is going on here.

This administration maybe didn't have the votes or will to get legislation through Congress, so it created these executive orders and broke the law in doing so. Some of these orders are unconstitutional, and that is why there have been so many injunctions to stop the lawbreaking.

These injunctions were celebrated by the other side when they stopped actions under the previous Democratic administrations. Yet, now that President Trump is in office, this bill exists to help the President do whatever he wants, even if it is unconstitutional.

I get asked a lot these days about what is going to happen when this President ignores the courts. Wouldn't we have a constitutional crisis on our hands?

Mr. Speaker, this bill makes it easier for the President's actions to go unchecked. By blocking nationwide injunctions, people will be powerless to quickly stop illegal and unconstitutional actions.

This bill is simply another loyalty bill for the President, up there with naming airports after him or putting his face on Mount Rushmore. Loyalty to the President should not supersede the rule of law or loyalty to uphold the Constitution. This bill doesn't just take power away from judges, but it takes power away from the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, when I recently asked someone who supports gutting the Department of Education how that decision would make American education better or what the Department even does, they couldn't give me an answer.

Let me tell you how gutting this Department will hurt every parent, teacher, and, most of all, students in our country.

In Virginia alone, 5,000 teachers would be at risk of removal; our education system would face a $2.4 billion shortfall; and we would lose $2,000 in spending for each student. Our most vulnerable students with special needs would be unable to access the resources they need to succeed, and low-income students would go hungry.

Education has always been a great equalizer and an engine for socioeconomic mobility. Without the Department of Education, we will be left with a system that leaves Americans--rural, urban, and suburban-- underserved, uneducated, and unprepared.

If we want to lead in the world of innovation and discovery, if we want opportunity for everyone, we need to invest in the next generation, our kids.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Osbourn Park High School girls' basketball team's historic State championship victory.

The Yellow Jackets' swarming defense propelled them to a buzzing 27-3 season record and the first State championship in school history. Their championship win was a testament to hard work, determination, and overcoming a little bit of adversity, as well.

In fact, just before the game, Head Coach Chrissy Kelly broke her pinky toe. The flu swept through the team, keeping them away from practice. On the day of the championship, the team's bus accidentally traveled to the wrong arena. The Yellow Jackets persevered, and their victory is not just a win for the team but for our entire community.

Mr. Speaker, congratulations to our State champions, the Osbourn Park Yellow Jackets.

Honoring Loudoun County Science Fair Students

Mr. Speaker, I am excited for the future after having the honor of meeting some incredibly driven individuals at a local science fair.

Every student who entered the science fair in Loudoun County was a winner, but seven students from Loudoun County Public Schools who participated in this regional fair earned the opportunity to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio.

These students include Taha Rawjani, Sanjay Lakshmanan, and Matthew Li from Independence High School; Yash Sreepathi from Broad Run High School; Naija Shah and Nithya Vinodh from John Champe High School; and Naitik Oza from Freedom High School.

All the projects at the fair showed that the sky is the limit for our students as they address some of the world's most pressing challenges. For example, one project conducted groundbreaking research on limiting the spread of esophageal cancer using advanced molecular techniques, while another developed a model to identify potential treatments for pancreatic cancer.

All the young scientists and researchers who participated are paving the way for breakthroughs that can transform the world we live in for the better. Their dedication showcases the promise of the next generation in tackling complex problems with creativity and determination.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the hard work of all the participants and wish them tremendous success, especially the ones who are moving on to the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Honoring the Memory of Chandra Sekar

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and memory of Chandra Sekar. He was a devoted husband, loving father, and cherished friend whose presence filled every life he touched with warmth and love.

Chandra built a beautiful life in Loudoun County with his wife, Vasanthi Sekar, and his kids, Ashwin and Santhosh. They were his greatest joy and pride.

Over Chandra's prestigious 30-year career, he rose from software engineer to leading cloud architect at Amazon and Microsoft.

His family said that Chandra's kindness was boundless and his spirit radiant. He had an extraordinary ability to make everyone feel seen, loved, and strong, whether through his smile or his endless compassion. His memory will leave a lasting impact on all who had the honor of knowing him.

Mr. Speaker, may he rest in peace.