Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to applaud my Republican colleagues for condemning President Trump's socialist actions, but they won't admit that the President is the biggest socialist in America today.

President Trump has turned the Federal Government into a shareholder in private American companies, taking ownership stakes in companies and putting Washington directly into the business of picking winners and losers.

So let's get into it, Mr. Speaker.

Democrats want to make sure American families can put food on the table. Donald Trump has taken a 10 percent stake in Intel Corporation.

Democrats want clean water. Donald Trump wants his friends to have drilling contracts on public lands.

Democrats want families to pay less for prescription drugs, while Trump wants to give his billionaire friends and family another tax break.

His socialism is about his social circle getting more while the American people get less. Denounce that, but don't lecture the American people about socialism. They are not stupid nor confused about what they are feeling in their pocketbooks. County hospitals, emergency rooms, police, fire, roads, stoplights, public schools, libraries, public pools, and parks are all funded by socialism and are getting squeezed by this administration's cuts and shenanigans.

If my Republican colleagues truly oppose government ownership of private companies and truly condemn socialism, then I invite them to join us in denouncing Trump's own policies. Until then, save the gaslighting for the convention and miss me with this nonsense.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from the great State of Virginia, Congresswoman McClellan, and to the Congressional Black Caucus for organizing this Special Order hour.

For the past month, we have been home in our districts, listening to our constituents. For me, they run up on me in the streets, in the grocery store, and at church. What I am hearing is very simple: People are tired of paying more and getting less, and they have a lot of questions.

I am going to tell you what I am hearing. I am going to share with you the questions that my constituents are asking because there are huge gaps between what this administration promises and has promised and what working families are actually experiencing.

Let's get into it, and let's start by talking about the economy. In Los Angeles, in my district, gas is $6, at least, depending on where you go. You can go to some gas stations, and it is as high as $8. Groceries are too expensive. I have constituents telling me that they are making choices between buying a protein to feed their children and not buying any protein at all for maybe a day or 2 days or an entire week.

The housing market is in the toilet. Money is too expensive, the rates are too high, and if you buy a home or are trying to fix up your house, you cannot even find the workforce for some of these smaller projects. They are asking: Where is our economic relief?

Just recently, they just saw the President hosting a racing car event on The National Mall, a bill that most likely the American people are footing, that has not, will not, is not benefiting their bottom line.

Working people are not stupid. They know the difference between a stunt to distract and having real conversations about what you are doing to help them at the pump, to help them get a home, to help them purchase groceries.

I actually have a question for Secretary Bessent: Why can't you fix the economy? If tariffs, tax cuts, and deregulation were supposed to deliver prosperity, then why are families still struggling to make ends meet?

Here is another question I have heard: What are we doing to Canada and what is with all of these tariffs? The administration keeps telling Americans that tariffs are paid for by somebody else. If someone is telling you that, you need to remind them that they don't know how to do math because American consumers and businesses are ultimately the ones that are feeling most of those costs. Those costs are going up, and they are disrupting supply chains.

Now, Canada is fighting back with new tariffs on hundreds of American products, so Canada is boycotting our goods. They have been boycotting tourism to our country. They have jacked up the prices on appliances, on steel, on agriculture equipment, on toilet paper. Thirty percent of the paper pulp for our toilet paper comes from Canada.

Not only that, but they have also enticed close to 50 of our most prominent tenured faculty in American colleges and universities who are saying good-bye to the United States and hello to Canada.

Our prices are going up. We are suffering a brain drain. Our toilet paper is going to be too high. We have a President who seems more obsessed with changing the name of a lake, from Lake Ontario to Lake America.

However, don't be distracted by this Lake America nonsense because it looks as if, by the looks of it, it is our economy that is at the bottom of the lake.

People keep asking me: Well, this President keeps talking about America First, but who is actually first? Republicans ran on putting American families first, but too often the folks who are benefiting from these tax breaks, from these cuts, from these backroom deals happening with the administration are people who already have the most.

The folks who are asking me about what Republicans are doing are concerned about their SNAP benefits, housing assistance, and Medicaid. In my district, 400,000 of my constituents are enrolled in Medicaid. They are concerned.

The working class is being disrespected every single day, and they are tired of the propaganda coming from this administration, telling them that what they are experiencing is not real.

Then they also ask about Republicans. They say: Well, how come Republicans aren't standing up to Trump? What are they doing?

That is also a question that I have, wondering is there a backbone in the Republican Party. We should ask that, really, of Senators Cornyn and Cassidy: At what point does loyalty to the country become more important than loyalty to one man?

Congress is supposed to be a check on the executive branch, not a cheer squad for it. They ask about this Russell Vought guy: Who is this guy, and why does he still have a job? I don't know, but I am working on it is what I tell them. I have introduced Articles of Impeachment against OMB Director Russell Vought after the administration admitted in court that Federal funding was terminated based on political criteria. If a State voted for Kamala Harris or voted with Democrats, they were on the short list for cuts.

We are talking about Federal dollars that belong to the American people, not to the President or his political allies. When an administration uses government funding to punish a State because of how their residents voted, that is not governance; that is an abuse of power.

They have been asking about healthcare. They want to know: Why is it that we have a President who can find money for spectacle, while Republicans tell families there isn't enough money to protect their healthcare when we have an endless, unnecessary war costing $2 billion a day, and Republicans cannot find money to pay for healthcare.

They also want to ask about the President's health. They want to know: Is he healthy? That is because what they see on the television doesn't look healthy.

Then they remind me how every week during the Biden administration, Republicans were whining about Joe Biden's health, but that was a President who was awake. Joe Biden wasn't sleeping in meetings in the Oval Office. Joe Biden wasn't putting a whole bunch of concealer and foundation on his hand to cover up blotches.

It has been radio silence from the Republicans on the health of this President. They want to know if he is in cognitive decline, and the transparency of the President's health is vitally important and a valid question to ask.

People have been asking about Venezuela and why this administration is stealing their oil. The American public deserves to know what our government is doing overseas and why.

They have asked me: How can this administration kidnap a sitting President, steal a country's oil, and then enslave the people in that country just to get rich for themselves, and how do they think this is okay? There are no answers.

When we are in our hearings asking Cabinet members these questions, they

don't seem to have any answers for us either.

My district, my city, is also asking about immigration and why this country is sanctioning terror in the streets.

We had a bipartisan immigration reform bill that this current President tanked, and we still need immigration reform. We need an immigration system that is secure, that is orderly, that is humane, and that is functional. Terrorizing community members in the streets is none of those things.

When workers are hiding in their homes, afraid to go to work and afraid to get their children to the doctor, then our communities suffer, our neighborhoods suffer, and our economies suffer. All of those things are at the hands of this administration and this President.

I was in my district. It was over 100 degrees for a couple of weeks during the month of August in Los Angeles. So people are asking about that: Why is it so hot? What is this administration doing about climate change?

What they are doing is unleashing fossil fuels and giving permits to anybody who has the cash to buy one, damaging our natural land, drilling, and taking the climate with us. Ultimately, the people in my district are asking about themselves, which is what they should be doing. They want to know why this administration is not helping them with jobs, with student debt, with healthcare, and with a trustworthy and credible government with an agenda that is forward-thinking and actually is centered around them.

That is because my constituents are showing up every day. They are working, they are hustling, and they are making ends meet. They are doing their part for this government and this economy, and they are wondering why this administration, why this President, is not showing up for them and why they are getting the short end of the stick.

The Black Caucus has been showing up. I have been showing up. I wish my Republican colleagues would do the same. That is because fighting for a healthcare system that works for all; for an economy that is just; for an education system that is funded, just, and in every community across this country; and for an economy that supports growing jobs, supporting small businesses, and re-creating the vibrancy that each of our districts deserves should be the priority of this President and this administration. It should not be trying to find another way to host another spectacle or distraction at the expense of the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to once again demand that ICE immediately provide my constituent, Carlitos Ricardo Parias, urgently needed medical care.

Carlitos is a father, husband, and volunteer in our community who was even recognized by city council for his service.

Last October, ICE shot Carlitos near his elbow. He received initial care at a hospital, but since being transferred to the Adelanto ICE facility in December, ICE has denied him proper care for the injury they caused.

I visited Carlitos in late May. His hand was purple, his fingers were atrophied, and he is experiencing headaches and nerve pain. I am worried that he may have a bone infection and that his arm could be amputated.

Carlitos urgently needs medical attention, and many more at Adelanto do, too.

Last week, a Federal judge ordered sweeping changes to improve Adelanto's conditions for detainees. It is time for ICE to comply with this judge's orders and end this cruelty at Adelanto and nationwide.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a remarkable leader in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Right Reverend Theodore Larry Kirkland, Sr.

As the founding pastor of Brookins AME Church, his powerful preaching inspired generations of Angelenos and helped build the congregation into the spiritual cornerstone it remains today.

In 1996, Bishop Kirkland was elected and consecrated as the 114th bishop of the AME Church.

Over the next four decades, his leadership touched countless lives across the globe from communities throughout Africa to right here on the West Coast.

His ministry was defined not only by faith but by action. He supported local businessowners, worked to combat food insecurity, and helped expand access to health services for the uninsured.

His passing is a profound loss, but his legacy will live on through his loving family and the AME community.

May he rest in peace in the presence of God.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor your 2026 NCAA women's water polo national champions, my USC Trojans.

Last month, my Trojans beat our cross-State rival, the California Golden Bears, in a 10-9 nail-biter to take home their seventh national championship in program history.

After falling short in the championship game last year, Coach Casey Moon and the Trojans stayed the course and bounced back to win it all.

Special shout-outs to Anna Reed, Emily Ausmus, and Ava Stryker, who took home First Team All-Tournament honors. That is 6 straight years with at least one national championship. You have made our university, California's 37th Congressional District, and Trojans everywhere proud.

Fight on.

republican p-riorities

Mr. Speaker, Trump and Republicans just showed the American people once again exactly where their priorities lie--not with families struggling to make ends meet but with lawless agencies and political allies.

Yesterday, Republicans passed a $70 billion slush fund for ICE and CBP on top of the $140 billion already handed out in the big, ugly bill.

I submitted amendments that highlight just how dangerous and unrestrained this bill truly is. One amendment requires essential care for pregnant individuals in detention, another prohibits ICE from hiring people who participated in the January 6 insurrection, pardoned or not.

This would ban individuals like January 6er Andrew Johnson, who was

charged with sex crimes against two children, from becoming an ICE or CBP officer. But Republicans said no and instead passed a bill with zero reforms to rein in ICE and CBP.

Endless billions for political corruption and nothing for those who defended our Capitol on January 6.

Mr. Speaker, the President said it himself: He doesn't think about Americans' financial situations. Last night, Republicans cosigned that exact sentiment.

Republicans have an audience of one. Democrats have an audience of over 340 million, and we will keep fighting for the American people and for our immigrant neighbors.

Donald Trump's Sleep Habits

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm about a grave national security threat: Donald Trump's sleeping habits.

I know we have rules about decorum, so I will stick to the facts, because this is, in fact, a serious matter of oversight, transparency, and national security.

In meeting after meeting, Donald Trump has fallen asleep. In public, on camera, in broad daylight, and when people lavish praise on him.

We cannot trust the White House on matters concerning the President's health because they are denying what Americans are seeing with their own two eyes.

Just last week, Marco Rubio seemingly lied to Congress about this when he told my colleague that he had never been at a meeting where Trump fell asleep, despite being shown a video where the President dozed off right next to him.

We cannot have a President asleep on the job. Is he sleeping in classified briefings or on calls with foreign leaders? How can we trust a President who is literally asleep at the wheel to make informed decisions about national security?

An April YouGov poll found that 48 percent of Americans believe that Trump is also suffering modest to significant cognitive decline. He is increasingly making erratic decisions that raise questions about his mental fitness for office.

He is posting AI on Truth Social at ungodly hours of the night. He is hyperfixated on his billion-dollar ballroom and a $1.8 billion slush fund for political allies instead of ending his war of choice on Iran and lowering costs for Americans.

Sadly, the White House has repeatedly failed to be transparent with the American people about the President's health.

Trump consistently has bruises on his hands that the White House claims are from handshakes. He received an MRI without knowing what body part was scanned or disclosing why he received it.

The White House failed to put a mysterious dentist appointment on the Presidential calendar, as is normal for medical appointments.

Dr. Oz says the President is taking cognitive tests every day because he ``likes the results.''

The White House removed a hair loss prevention drug from the public list of drugs he is taking, saying they are not obligated to disclose what medications the President is on.

Is Trump suddenly naturally growing his hair, or is the White House hiding something?

We need real transparency.

It is time for Republicans to wake up and join Democrats in demanding transparency from this White House about the President's health. It is a matter of national security.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms. McClellan) for hosting this Special Order hour.

The House is on fire, and our democracy is under attack. This time, instead of storming the Capitol, they are changing the maps to silence the voices of millions of Americans.

The Supreme Court's decision in Louisiana v. Callais has given States a green light to weaken Black political power under the false cover of race neutrality.

In Memphis, Tennessee, a historic, organic majority-Black district has been carved up to dilute its voice.

In Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, and Mississippi, similar efforts are under way.

It is ironic that the States where the power stealing is happening right now are Confederate States where the tension of race remains unresolved.

Let's be clear. This virus is contagious. Wake up, people. This is not coincidence. This is coordination. The attacks are dangerous, but so is the silence. Silence in this moment is complicity, and history will document who spoke up and who stayed quiet.

Let's not forget, the Black vote has never just elected Black leaders. It has been the backbone of coalitions that lifted others into power.

In 2020, Black voters in Georgia not only elected Reverend Warnock to the Senate, they also elected Jon Ossoff, flipping two red seats blue and giving Democrats the tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

They have consistently shown up for and elected Presidents like Joe Biden, proving once again that not only Black leaders benefit from Black political engagement and trust.

Let me be clear about something else. Black Members of Congress do not only represent Black communities. We represent everyone. Many of us serve diverse, even majority White districts, delivering results for all of our constituents.

When these maps are redrawn to eliminate Black representation, it is not about fairness. It is about fear and real talk. If race is truly not a factor, then why are Black districts always the ones being dismantled?

Let's say it plainly. If some of our colleagues were not afraid of Black voters, then they would not be working so hard to silence us.

We have to meet this moment with urgency. Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, organize, mobilize, turn out, and hold receipts. This is bigger than any one district. It is about whether democracy works for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained during the vote on S. 4465--To amend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 to extend the authorities of title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 155.

Madam Speaker, today, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and all the things. These bills are problematic and dangerous and will not make gas prices lower or feed families.

The FISA bill will allow the government to oversurveil Americans. The farm bill will keep the cuts to SNAP benefits and food pantries while protecting large corporations that put pesticides in your food.

The budget bill will fund the murderous ICE and Border Patrol to the tune of $140 billion without accountability.

The anti-trans bill will continue to demonize the trans community.

These bills are not just dangerous. They could kill people.

Madam Speaker, to load all of these sinister bills together and try to stuff them down the throats of Americans already choking on the incompetence of the majority is disingenuous and delusional.

No on the rule. No on the floor. Just no. Enough is enough.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day to honor the extraordinary life and service of one of these brave aviators, Jerry Hodges, Jr.

At a time when our Nation was thrust into World War II and in the thick of Jim Crow, Jerry stepped up to serve his country, joining the first group of Black military pilots in the U.S. Armed Forces.

His commitment to challenging the status quo while supporting our Nation did not end with the war.

After graduating from the University of Southern California, he helped lead one of the first African-American-owned insurance companies in California.

His legacy of excellence, courage, and unwavering devotion to justice and equity has paved the way for generations of African Americans in uniform and beyond.

That is why I am proud to introduce legislation to rename a Post Office in my district in his honor. As we pass by the future Jerry T. Hodges Post Office, may we be reminded to carry forward his legacy and strive to be changemakers in our own communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the extraordinary life of Reverend Dr. William Saxe Epps which began on June 3, 1945.

Reverend Dr. Epps of Rochester, New York, lived by the principle that ''service is the price you pay for the space you occupy.'' His unwavering commitment to serving the people of Los Angeles and our Nation reminds us that privilege demands responsibility--and that faith requires action.

His pastoral journey was deeply rooted in the Black freedom tradition, carrying forward a legacy of faith-driven activism and moral leadership. He served some of the most historic Black churches in America, including First Baptist Church of Winston-Salem, Calvary Baptist Church in Massachusetts, and most recently, Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles here in my congressional district.

Under his visionary leadership as senior pastor for more than 35 years, Second Baptist Church of Los Angeles became both a spiritual anchor and a powerful civic force, advancing justice, education, and community empowerment for my constituents and beyond.

Beyond ministry, Reverend Dr. Epps was a tireless champion of education. He worked for former Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and later became the longest-serving Commissioner on the Affordable Housing Commission where he helped ensure that every Angeleno had a home.

Reverend Dr. Epps found deep joy and meaning in art, music, literature, and culture, believing these to be essential tools for healing and human connection.

With his transition on January 12, 2026, alongside his loving wife of 48 years, we have lost not only a giant in the faith and civil rights movement, but also a devoted husband, caring grandfather, and cherished friend.

His legacy of service, justice, and love will endure as we continue to practice what he so powerfully preached.

May he rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to honor the remarkable life of civil rights activist and community leader, Joy Atkinson.

Joy dedicated her life to mentoring thousands of Black women to become the next generation of changemakers in Los Angeles, and I was one of them.

Joy was the first person to introduce me to public policy work. Without her, I would not be standing here today as a Member of Congress. Whether advising local elected officials or leading the Los Angeles African-American Women's Public Policy Institute, her integrity, courage, and commitment to building coalitions and creating change never wavered.

In my city, Joy touched the lives of anybody who was anybody. With her unexpected passing, we have not only lost a giant in the fight for justice but also a beloved mother, friend, and confidant. Her legacy will endure as we continue working toward the more equitable and inclusive society in which she so deeply believed.

May she rest in peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the new mayor of Culver City in my district, Freddy Puza.

First as a Councilmember and most recently as Vice Mayor, Freddy has relentlessly fought for a more inclusive, vibrant, and equitable Culver City. His unwavering leadership and compassion are exactly what Culver City deserves in its next mayor.

His accession to Mayor represents visibility, dignity, and hope that extend far beyond the boundaries of my district. As the first openly gay Mayor in Culver City's 108-year history, he paves the way for future generations of LGBTQ+ youth to see themselves reflected in public service and civic life.

I look forward to working alongside Mayor Puza as we serve the Culver City community together in the year ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the extraordinary life of a beloved Angeleno who passed away at the age of 96, the late Margaret ``BB'' Bell Houston.

For more than four decades, she served as a private nurse. Her unwavering commitment to caring for others touched countless patients and leaves behind a legacy of compassion that will live on for generations to come.

Those who knew her best will remember a passionate animal lover with an eye for fashion, a joy for jazz and dancing, and a fondness for sunflowers. I like to imagine her now dancing to jazz in a garden of sunflowers in heaven, reunited with her husband and parents.

Margaret was generous beyond measure to her family and friends alike. Her loss will be profoundly felt by her son Cedric, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will be deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of the late Reverend Gregory M. Goethals.

Reverend Gregory was an extraordinary leader within the Loyola High School community for 19 years, and his teachings will continue to resonate in the lives of the students he touched.

Since 1988, he dedicated his life to helping others experience God's unconditional love as deeply as he did. Beyond his service, Reverend Gregory cherished the arts and was no stranger to the stage--where his quick wit and warm humor brought joy to so many.

His passing is a tremendous loss for his family, his fellow Jesuits, and the entire Loyola community. May he rest in peace with the angels and saints in the everlasting presence of God.