Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 36, the vote closed before I was able to cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 36.

Mr. Speaker, there is a longstanding allyship between the Black and Asian communities in L.A. exemplified by the Holiday Bowl, once located in the heart of my district.

Founded by five Japanese Americans in 1957, the Holiday Bowl served everyone but had a particularly significant impact on the growing Black community in the historic Crenshaw Corridor.

Both the Japanese and Black communities in L.A. were targets of redlining and racial discrimination from the government and banks, which left them with few places to settle. While Japanese Americans worked to recover from the unjust internment camps and postwar discrimination, Black Americans continued to fight against racial segregation and voter suppression.

The Holiday Bowl provided a space to come together as Angelenos, offering residents of Crenshaw a safe space for entertainment, healing, and protection.

This solidarity was tested during the 1992 L.A. riots, which erupted following the horrific beating and arrest of Rodney King.

At a time when racial tensions dominated our city, and much of South Central was engulfed in flames, the Holiday Bowl stood as a beacon of light amid the destruction. Not only did the Holiday Bowl emerge unscathed from the riots, but people actually gathered to bowl on the night the riots broke out.

Although the bowling alley closed in 2000 and was eventually demolished, its impact on our South L.A. community will be felt for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, unlike Donald Trump, I have no bacon or beef with Canada, but as an Angeleno I do have beef with a certain someone from The Six.

That beef officially ended at the Grammys in my district on Saturday night. Kendrick Lamar put the final nail in ``Certified Lover Boy's'' coffin when he took home the first-ever Grammy for a diss track proving once and for all they ``Not Like Us.''

Kendrick took home one, two, three, four, five Grammys in 2025. That is not a minor feat.

Kendrick wasn't the only one making Black history this February. Beyonce finally won Album of the Year after I expressed my grief about her being snubbed from this podium last year.

She became the first Black woman to take home the award this century and the first Black artist ever to win Best Country Album.

Last Sunday was for the Grammys. This Sunday is for the Super Bowl where K. Dot will pop out and show what L.A. is all about once again.

I won't be rooting for the Chiefs or the Eagles, but I won't turn the TV off for Kendrick either.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to call out the glaring hypocrisy of H.R. 21. Once again, the Republican Party is twisting the truth instead of telling the truth. With H.R. 21, Republicans claim they are saving lives of newborn babies. The last I checked, infanticide is already illegal in all 50 States.

This bill is the first step of the Republicans' radical agenda to make us less safe.

They boast about being the party of law and order. However, it seems that notion only applies when punishing women and healthcare providers, not the violent insurrectionists who stormed our Capitol on January 6. Shamefully, they don't seem to care about the five police officers who died as a result of January 6 or the 140 others who were injured.

What happened to Back the Blue?

They also don't seem to care about the women who have already died as a result of Donald Trump's extreme abortion ban. Apparently, not all lives matter.

The goal of H.R. 21 is clear: to further strip women of their fundamental rights by threatening doctors and healthcare providers with jail time.

Now Republicans want to lock up those who save lives while freeing cop killers?

It is radical and not what the American people want.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with their constituents, not against them, and vote ``no'' on this dangerous, grossly hypocritical, and unnecessary bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge Donald Trump to truly put America first by setting politics aside and providing California with the disaster relief we urgently need and deserve. Let's do that by fighting for California, home to close to 40 million people who also live in America.

Just a few weeks ago, big, bad fires broke out across Los Angeles County. Donald Trump's first instinct was to point fingers at California leaders for fires caused not by them but by Mother Nature herself and climate change. For the record, California has a lot of things, but one thing we do not have is a big old sink that can water the entire State.

Now, Trump wants to be a unifier. He claims he wants to put America first, so let's talk about what America First genuinely means.

America First does not involve placing conditions on disaster aid to Americans simply because of how a State voted.

America First does not mean leaving thousands of people without housing amid an ongoing housing crisis.

America First does not look like insurance companies robbing people or putting shareholders first.

What putting America first does mean, however, is passing disaster aid without conditions because, as Americans, we help each other when we are in need. At least, I thought that is what we do.

America First means build and rebuild. Build, baby, rebuild, swiftly and fairly, so no one remains unhoused.

America First means making insurance plans accessible to everyone, not just the rich and those properties that are considered low risk.

Mr. Trump, the individuals impacted by the fires in Los Angeles are not just, as you put it, ``the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country'' who were present at your inauguration. These are real people--grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren, working, middle-class individuals--who have lost everything.

News flash, Donald Trump, many of them voted for you.

Let's support them and not just the wealthy few. That is how we truly put America first.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 105 years of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, a legacy of ``Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood, and Finer Womanhood'' that began on January 16, 1920, right here in Washington, D.C.

Founded by the Five Pearls, Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings, and Fannie Pettie Watts, these visionary women didn't just build a sisterhood. They built an organization that rejected elitism and frivolity.

From being the first to charter a chapter in Africa to fostering community-conscious, action-oriented leadership, this sorority has set the gold standard.

Today, with over 100,000 members across 870 chapters worldwide, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, has remained unwavering in its mission, whether it is promoting social justice, providing service, or showing the world what it truly means to be a finer woman.

What is sisterhood? Sisterhood is not just about wearing matching colors and strolling. True sisterhood means extending respect and support, encouraging each other, and committing to a lifetime of friendship. When a sister forgets what that means, you let her know with love.

As a proud member, I am thrilled to wish my sorors a happy Founders Day.

Mr. Speaker, I was absent today during rollcall No. 7 due to the

windstorms and ongoing fires affecting my district. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 7.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act, which seeks to resolve stakeholder conflicts regarding water use and fish and wildlife management in the Klamath River Basin.

Since time immemorial, the Klamath River has supported the livelihoods of several tribes in the basin. It continues to play a key role in each of these tribes' cultures, economies, and food sovereignty.

Unfortunately, the construction of dams along the river and changing climate conditions in the basin resulted in devastating consequences for tribes, agriculture, fish and wildlife, and fishing communities as a result of reduced water flows.

Since planning for dam removal in the lower Klamath River started, there have been years of work and negotiations between the tribes and other parties to reach agreement on issues affecting water, fish, and wildlife in the basin.

After the removal of the four lower Klamath Dams, salmon have already begun migrating into previously inaccessible historic salmon spawning habitat. Good for them.

The legislation before us today would build on this historic restoration project by further supporting the commitments made under the Klamath Basin agreements.

I thank the majority for working with us to ensure that Tribal concerns with the introduced language were addressed prior to moving the bill out of committee.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the MAPWaters Act would improve the standardization and public access to information about Federal waterway restrictions, Federal waterway access and navigation, and Federal fishing restrictions.

By standardizing and digitizing this information, this bill would give Americans the information and confidence to engage in recreation without searching for and deciphering information across numerous agency websites.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Lumbee Fairness Act, which would extend Federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

The State of North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe in 1885, and the Tribe has been seeking Federal recognition from the United States for nearly 140 years. Mr. Speaker, that is a long time.

Legislative efforts to provide Federal recognition to the Tribe over the years have been led by both Democratic and Republican sponsors and have historically passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. The Tribe has time and time and time and time again shown that they are a distinct, self-governing Indian community and that they are worthy of Federal recognition.

It is long past time that Congress extended these rights to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as someone who represents Tribal communities in Los Angeles County who also seek recognition, it is tough stuff when Tribal Nations are fighting with one another.

I hope that we can find a ``both/and'' rather than an ``either/or'' to many of these discussions. I rarely find folks are trying to fake it and pretend that they are Native when they are not.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a momentous event that redefined what the Olympics could achieve and left a lasting legacy for our Nation and the world.

The 1984 Games were groundbreaking, the first privately financed, and most financially successful in history. With 5.7 million tickets sold and events across 4,000 square miles of southern California, they captivated the world and showcased Los Angeles as a global leader.

More than a display of athletic excellence, the 1984 Games ushered in a new era of innovation, technology, and inclusivity, while fostering international good will and reminding us that sport has the power to unite where politics may divide.

From this success, the LA84 Foundation was born, ensuring that the legacy of the 1984 Olympics continues to benefit future generations. Over the past four decades, the foundation has supported millions of young people, built vital infrastructure, and led the national conversation on play, equity, and youth development.

As we look ahead to the 2028 Olympics, Los Angeles will once again welcome the world, offering a unique opportunity to harness the soft power of sport to promote peace, strengthen global relationships, and inspire future generations. Let us build on this legacy as we prepare to unite the world once again in 2028.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act. This bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into good faith negotiations with Hitchcock County and Frontier County in southern Nebraska to establish a title transfer agreement for certain lands within the Swanson Reservoir and Red Willow Reservoir lands.

The Swanson Reservoir and Hugh Butler Reservoir serve as home to several communities and popular recreation sites. Transferring ownership of these lands from the Bureau of Reclamation to the counties will allow the counties to manage and develop the land for recreational use and conservation in alignment with the communities' needs.

It is worth noting that there are some health and safety concerns at the concession areas that need to be met to increase public safety and access to recreation facilities.

For that reason, the bill would require that prior to any conveyance, the local entities must demonstrate their ability to effectively operate, maintain, and enhance the lands for the same purposes for which they are currently being used and to establish a concrete plan to address health and safety concerns. This legislation will help improve the management of these sites for the surrounding communities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the 60th anniversary of St. John's Community Health, a beacon of hope and healing for underserved communities in Los Angeles and beyond.

Since its founding, St. John's has grown into one of the largest Federally qualified health center networks in our country, providing essential healthcare services to hundreds of thousands of patients each year.

Guided by a mission of healthcare as a human right, St. John's has touched the lives of countless individuals, ensuring that the most vulnerable in our society receive the care they deserve.

This remarkable organization has led with compassionate innovation, addressing health disparities, championing social justice, and advocating for equity in healthcare access.

St. John's partnership with labor unions, schools, and local government has strengthened its ability to respond to challenges facing communities in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties.

Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate this milestone, let us recognize the unwavering leadership of Jim Mangia, president and CEO of St. John's, and the contribution of the dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters.

Mr. Speaker, I thank St. John's Community Health for 60 years of care, compassion, and commitment to the well-being of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I give thanks and appreciation to the gentlewoman from Florida for holding it down during this Special Order hour for the CBC, and I thank the gentleman from Illinois for doing the same.

Mr. Speaker, today, we stand on the shoulders of a giant, a giant who stood just 5 feet 3 inches tall but had the power to shake the Nation.

Shirley Chisholm wasn't just the first Black woman elected to Congress. She was a force of nature who shattered barriers and dared anyone to stop her. Spoiler alert: They couldn't.

In a world that told her no at every turn, Shirley said: Watch me. Watch me.

She ran for Congress. She won. She became the first Black woman to serve in this very body, a body that, let's be clear, wasn't exactly rolling out the red carpet and still kind of doesn't.

Did that stop her? Absolutely not. She showed up, took her seat, and if there wasn't a seat, Shirley brought her own folding chair, slammed it down, and said: Let's get to work.

She made history. Along the way, she didn't just break the rules; she rewrote them. She fought for civil rights, women's rights, and economic justice. She did it all without ever compromising who she was or in what she believed.

Shirley didn't come to Congress to blend in. She came to lead, to challenge, and to remind the world that power belongs to those bold enough to claim it.

And lead she did, fearlessly, unapologetically, and always with her eyes on a better and more just future.

Her campaign slogan, Unbought and Unbossed, wasn't just a catchy phrase; it was her truth. In a world that told her to ``wait your turn,'' she declared: My turn is right now.

When she ran for President, she didn't just run to win. She ran to pave the way for the rest of us. Her courage made it possible for people like me, for people like all of us in CBC, to serve. Her voice ensured that our voices would one day be heard. Her fierce advocacy for women, Black Americans, and the marginalized taught us a vital lesson: If they won't give you power, you take it.

In my office, where her portrait graces the walls, I am reminded daily that it is not enough to be in the room. You must shake it. You must demand justice. Most importantly, you must never let anyone tell you to wait your turn.

As Shirley said: If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.

I thank Madam Shirley Chisholm. We got our chairs, and we are just getting started.

Many of the women here shared their story. I don't have a story because I am too young, but I will tell you, in my home, Shirley Chisholm was a legend. To be in the same Chamber where she stood, where she fought, where she won, where she declared that we deserve to be here, it is an awesome experience and feeling every single time we are here to know we have shared the same space with the great, the legendary, the most powerful, Shirley Chisholm.

It is why her photos are on all of my walls in the office because I want everyone, when they come to see me, I want them also to see her.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Shirley Chisholm for her honor, and we carry her legacy forward: Unbought, unbossed, and unstoppable.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Last month, to most baseball fans' delight, our Dodgers completed a gentleman's sweep to defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

This season was nothing short of remarkable.

Shohei Ohtani's contract broke records, and he continued to break more in the Dodger blue.

Ohtani became the first MLB player to record at least 50 home runs and 50 steals in a season and broke Shawn Green's team home run record.

Just wait until he can pitch for us.

From Ohtani and Freddie Freeman playing through injuries to Walker Buehler's improbable return, this team battled and defied the odds to make history.

We are celebrating this team from L.A. to Korea to the Dominican Republic to Japan.

Haters can talk trash all they want, but there is no COVID season asterisk next to this one.

The L.A. Dodgers are your World Series champions, and we will run it back next year.