Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor the life of a remarkable humanitarian, community servant, human rights activist, and my fellow Kappa Alpha Psi brother, someone I considered to be a dear friend, the late Dr. Levon Aldon LeBan. His commitment to social justice transformed Louisiana and had a profound impact on this entire Nation. A United States Army veteran, minister, and retired educator, he served the New Orleans Parish Schools for over 20 years, with multiple accolades--including ``Teacher of the Year.'' He was not a man who loved power, but he deeply understood the power of LOVE, and his light impacted those both near and far.

A seventh-generation Louisianan, Dr. LeBan was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is a graduate of the public school system. He completed undergraduate studies at Southern University and A&M College and Southern University at New Orleans, earning a B.S. and B.A. degree, respectively. He earned a Master of Science degree from Prairie View A&M University in Texas, a Master of Social Work degree from Southern University at New Orleans, and a Master of Divinity from Bethel Bible College. He also earned a Doctor of Theology degree from the American College and Theological Seminary. He received a Doctor of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry, honoris causa. He completed additional studies at the University of New Orleans and the University of Maryland, College Park. While at Maryland, he participated in a study with the U.S. Agency for International Development to examine socio-economic systems in Puerto Rico, USA. Twice selected as a Fulbright Scholar, Dr. LeBan studied in Zimbabwe in 1995 and the Republic of South Africa in 2000. His travels in Africa also included Swaziland, Zambia, and Mozambique.

In 1979, he was employed as a Researcher by Texas A&M University in Waller County and served for over twenty years with Orleans Parish Schools. He was elected ``Teacher of the Year'' at Washington High, Cohen High, and Walker Middle Schools. He also taught at San Jacinto College (Texas), the University of Maryland, and Tulane University Graduate School of Social Work. As a member of the American Association of Suicidology, Dr. LeBan supervised the crisis hotline for the Volunteer and Information Agency for several years, then founded the Crisis Institute of Mediation, Intervention & Training--a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. He has written over 80 journal articles and papers, many of which were featured in the ``Africa Rising'' section of a New Orleans publication, the Louisiana Weekly. Dr. LeBan also published: ''Masonic Silk Stocking--History of a Louisiana Lodge,'' and ``History of the New Orleans Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.'' He served as the Historian for the Southwestern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated, covering New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Dr. LeBan most recently served as the President of the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association (LRTA) for District 1 (Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard Parishes). In 2024, received the prestigious LRTA ``Name of Fame'' Medallion in Houma, Louisiana.

As a citizen soldier, Dr. LeBan served five years in the United States Army. In 1986, he was selected as ``Soldier of the Year'' for the 122nd Army Reserve Command (Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas). He served several years as an instructor with the 4152nd USAR School and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal with Four Oak-leaf Clusters. He served as the first African American President of the Alliance for Good Government, Orleans Chapter.

In 1983, he was licensed and ordained as a minister of the gospel and served seven years as Senior Pastor of ``Walk in the Light'' Interdenominational Church and three years as Associate Pastor of ``Jesus Never Fails'' Ministry of New Orleans. He is the first African American to serve as the Disaster Spiritual Care Louisiana Regional Lead for the American Red Cross. Dr. LeBan also serves as a Chaplain with the Association. He is a member of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee and the National Disaster Spiritual Care Leadership Cadre.

Though an accomplished researcher and skilled writer, he supervised a crisis hotline in our city, established intervention strategies for handling crisis situations, and led spiritual care for the American Red Cross in Louisiana--aiding victims of natural disasters. Dr. LeBan has completed numerous humanitarian deployments with the American Red Cross, assisting individuals and families impacted by disasters throughout Louisiana since 2016. Some of his humanitarian efforts around the country include Wildfires in Maui, Hawaii; Typhoon in Guam, United States of America; Atmospheric Floods in San Jose, California; Hurricane Michael in Macon, Georgia; Oil Rig Tragedy in Port Fourchon, Louisiana; Tornado in Little Rock, Arkansas; Atmospheric Floods in Vallejo, California; Hurricane Fiona in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tornado in Mayfield, Kentucky; Flash Flooding in Central Tennessee; Floods in Eastern Kentucky, Texas; Mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas: Tornado in Southern Kentucky; Hurricane Harvey in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Houston, Texas; Floods in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Tornadoes in the Metropolitan New Orleans area. He currently serves as the first African American Louisiana Lead for Disaster Spiritual Care and Community Engagement/Partnerships with the American Red Cross.

A life member of the NAACP since 1979, he has held various offices at the local and state levels and was thrice elected the Louisiana State Conference Vice President. Dr. LeBan was currently serving as the 5th elected President of the New Orleans Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)--the oldest affiliate of SCLC in the Nation at the time of his passing. In 2019, the SCLC New Orleans Chapter was selected as the Interlebal SCLC Chapter of the Year, please see hyperlink below: https://sclcnola.org. From the military to the educational system, his fraternity, philanthropy, and ministry, Levon's life was one of service to his community. I thank Dr. LeBan's family for letting him be a part of our lives. I thank Dr. LeBan for his extraordinary contributions. His legacy will live forever and continue to light our paths toward a more just society. We salute the life and legacy of this dear man of God and send our deepest condolences to his family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2715, the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act, which I introduced with my Louisiana colleague Representative Clay Higgins.

This bill will protect American consumers and create a level playing field for American businesses by authorizing the Food and Drug Administration to order the destruction of imported products found to pose a significant public health concern.

Under current law, foreign exporters can ship contaminated or counterfeit products to the U.S. knowing they can withdraw the shipment if FDA flags it. They can then try to enter through a different port where the shipment may not be caught, a practice known as port shopping. This loophole endangers our health and undermines our food and drug safety systems.

This bill authorizes the Food and Drug Administration to require an importer to destroy an FDA-regulated product that was refused entry into the U.S. because it poses a significant public health concern with the cost of the destruction at the importer's expense. This bill also prohibits the unauthorized movement of any article designated for destruction by the FDA.

Some imported foods, especially seafood, have been found to be contaminated with carcinogenic drugs, pesticides, and other harmful impurities.

Beyond food, there has been a rise in imports of dangerous vape devices and e-liquids containing banned substances and excessive nicotine, as well as counterfeit drugs like GLP-1s.

This threat is real and documented. Exporters, especially Chinese exporters, have been caught resubmitting rejected shipments at different ports. This bill closes that loophole and creates a deterrent for bad actors.

Congressman Higgins and I have worked hand in hand with our domestic fishing industry on this legislation, including the Southern Shrimp Alliance. American fishermen perform backbreaking work and operate under strict U.S. food safety, labor, and environmental rules that raise their costs significantly. Meanwhile, some foreign producers cut corners and still get multiple chances to dump noncompliant and often dangerous products into the American marketplace.

Seafood imports continue to pour into the United States, increasing in

volume each year, undercutting domestic fishermen. Last year, the U.S. imported 6.4 billion pounds of foreign seafood, a 10 percent increase from 2019.

As imports have increased, American commercial seafood landings have declined. In 2024, the U.S. commercial landings totaled 7.7 billion pounds, the first time landings have been below 8 billion pounds since 1988.

Louisiana's commercial fishing industry has particularly been hit hard by this flood of foreign imports. Since 2021, Louisiana shrimpers have seen the value of their catch drop by more than 50 percent, falling from $131 million in 2021 to just $61 million in 2024. As you can see, this is, in fact, a real threat.

Passing this bill will deter bad actors from flooding the market with unsafe products and provide American fishermen with a fair playing field, allowing them to sustainably harvest millions of additional pounds of shrimp and other seafood each year.

This is a real issue, and I am proud to be working in a bipartisan way to address an issue that will impact not just Louisiana but our entire country.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2821, the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

I am proud to co-lead this bill with him and a bipartisan group of my colleagues: Representatives Barragan, Buchanan, DeLauro, and Harshbarger.

Over 3 years ago, the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 was signed into law, allowing the agency to approve human drugs without requiring animal testing through modern, often more effective, alternatives.

Despite this progress, the FDA has still not issued updated regulations to clarify where alternatives to animal testing are, in fact, permissible.

This legislation takes action to close the gap by requiring the FDA to fully implement the reforms that Congress has already enacted and to help reduce unnecessary animal testing in drug development. By ensuring the full implementation of the FDA Modernization Act 2.0, this legislation will help modernize and transform drug development for the 21st century; accelerate safer, more effective medical breakthroughs; and advance more humane scientific research.

This is long overdue. We see the unnecessary slaughtering of animals for research when there are other alternatives that may be, in fact, more humane, more effective, and more cost effective, yet we continue to do the same thing as if.

I am proud to be a part of this bill that will go a long way toward protecting lives, advancing technological scientific finds, and creating a better, more humane system. Overall, our bill is a big win for patients, a big win for innovation, and a big win for animal welfare.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on passing this critical legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act.

Twice a year, Americans lose sleep, disrupt their routines, and pay the price for a practice that has outlived its original purpose.

H.R. 139, the Sunshine Protection Act, ends that twice-yearly clock change and makes daylight saving time permanent year round.

Research shows that eliminating the biannual switch reduces the spike in heart attacks, strokes, and workplace accidents that follow the spring-forward transition. Ending the clock change also means fewer disruptions to sleep patterns tied to that adjustment period.

On the safety side, permanent evening daylight means more daylight during peak commuting and after-school hours, leading to fewer pedestrian and traffic fatalities in the evening.

As with many other policies, the impacts are more dramatic for our less affluent neighbors. Hourly workers, shift workers, and families relying on public transit are hit hardest by sudden schedule changes and reduced evening visibility.

More evening daylight reduces the need for artificial lighting and heating in the early evening hours, which can help lower household energy use and utility bills.

For Louisiana families, many of whom work in agriculture, fishing, and outdoor industries tied to the Gulf Coast, permanent daylight saving time would mean more usable evening daylight for safer work conditions, recreation, and valuable time with their families.

The American Farm Bureau Federation supports the Sunshine Protection Act because it would provide consistency and reduce disruptions for farmers and ranchers. A stable, year-round time system makes it easier to plan work, transportation, and market schedules. For agriculture, ending a twice-yearly change means fewer disruptions to the schedule that livestock and labor already depend on.

H.R. 139 offers a simple, permanent fix: no more clock changes, more usable evening daylight, and a system that works better for working families, rural communities, and American agriculture.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Walkinshaw for yielding.

I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 8874, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Reporting Act of 2026.

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, it became evident that cities across the United States could become targets for terrorist attacks and that they lacked the capacity and resources to independently build the critical capabilities needed to prevent, protect against, and respond to terrorist attacks and other catastrophic events.

Beginning in 2003, urban areas across the Nation began receiving dedicated counterterrorism grants from the Department of Homeland Security through the Urban Area Security Initiative, or UASI.

For more than two decades, this program has equipped our local first responders with advanced tools, equipment, and training necessary to protect their communities. These investments have built critical capabilities that strengthen preparedness and emergency responses across the region.

However, maintaining these capabilities cannot be sustained by locals alone. They require reliable, predictable Federal funding. Unfortunately, unpredictable changes to DHS' risk formula, which determines which areas receive funding, have often created year-to-year uncertainty, leaving many cities wondering whether their counterterrorism funding will suddenly disappear. Recently, these funding changes have been politically arbitrary.

We saw this danger firsthand last year, when under the leadership of former Secretary Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security attempted to abruptly remove historically funded cities--including, in my district, the city of New Orleans--from this program.

Former Secretary Noem tried to cut our Federal counterterrorism funding support in the same year our community suffered the horrific attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans on New Year's Day, which killed 14 people and injured dozens more. It took a lawsuit to stop them.

Here is the bottom line: Expecting locals to independently finance the massive security required for everyday safety--let alone high- profile events like Mardi Gras, the World Cup, or Super Bowl--is unrealistic and unfair. Abruptly turning off these resources is dangerous.

Congress previously acknowledged the value of UASI funding to communities by requiring a one-time report in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, examining how DHS could help cities transition when they lose grant eligibility.

I am grateful to former Congresswoman Val Demings for championing this previous NDAA provision and for her leadership in recognizing the need to support communities if they transition out of the UASI program. However, a one-time report leaves Congress in the dark going forward. We need ongoing data to monitor vulnerable communities after they are removed from the program and identify whether their security capabilities are at risk of degrading.

That is why I introduced H.R. 8874, the Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Reporting Act of 2026. This bipartisan bill closes this oversight gap by requiring FEMA to submit recurring reports every 3 years on how cities manage and maintain their federally funded counterterrorism and security capabilities after they lose UASI funding.

This bill will improve public safety across the Nation and ensure our communities are never left defenseless, which is why it is endorsed by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, and the National Fusion Center Association, to name a few.

I thank Ranking Member Bennie Thompson and Representative Gimenez for their partnership on this bill. I urge all my colleagues to support this vital, commonsense legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Walkinshaw for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 9388, the One-Stop Pilot Program Extension Act, which I am proud to co-lead with Congressman Gimenez. This bipartisan measure will modernize our aviation system, reduce unnecessary delays, and strengthen our international security partnership that keeps our skies safe.

Today, the international passengers connecting to domestic flights must often retrieve their checked bags, clear customs, and undergo yet another screening process through TSA before re-entering the terminal, creating congestion, long connection times, and avoidable operational strain on airports and the airlines.

The One-Stop Security program is a current TSA pilot initiative that streamlines this process for travelers arriving from trusted foreign airports that meet strict U.S. security standards, allowing them and their baggage to connect directly to domestic flights without duplicative screening.

The One-Stop Pilot Program Extension Act extends authorization for the One-Stop Security program for four more years, giving TSA, Customs and Border Protection, and participating airports time to scale the program, expand international partnerships, and evaluate the infrastructure needed for broader implementation.

This extension will not only improve efficiency and reduce costs but also strengthen the competitiveness of our domestic travel and tourism industries.

Cities where tourism is a major economic engine--like New Orleans in my district--stand to benefit from smoother, international-to-domestic connections that make the U.S. a more attractive destination and keep visitor spending flowing into local economies and supporting our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Gimenez for his leadership on this bill, and I urge favorable passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an incredible woman, Mrs. Lisa Perez Jackson, a distinguished native of my hometown and the district I serve. Her career includes an incredible path, spanning nearly four decades in state and federal government, public policy, and the private sector. While Mrs. Jackson was born in Philadelphia, she was raised in Pontchartrain Park by her adopted parents, Benjamin and Marie Perez. In 1979, she graduated as valedictorian from St. Mary's Dominican High School and would later graduate summa cum laude from Tulane University in 1983 with a degree in chemical engineering. As a National Merit Scholar, Ms. Jackson went on to earn a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University in 1986. Shortly thereafter, Jackson would begin her distinguished career in government, first as an engineer with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C. before subsequent promotions as deputy director and acting director of enforcement of the Agency's regional office in New York City.

After 16 years with the EPA, Jackson joined the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in March 2002 as assistant commissioner of compliance and enforcement and would later serve as assistant commissioner for land use management. She was appointed to lead DEP in 2006 by then Governor Jon Corzine and would later serve as the Governor's Chief of Staff.

On January 23, 2009, Jackson was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as President Barack Obama's Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. During her tenure as EPA Administrator, Jackson oversaw the development of stricter fuel efficiency standards and EPA's response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards. In 2013, Jackson became Apple, Inc.'s Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. During her tenure at Apple, Jackson led the company's transformation into a global leader in corporate environmental responsibility, achieving 100 percent renewable energy for Apple's worldwide operations in 2018 and implementing an industry- leading supplier clean energy program that added over 5 gigawatts of new clean energy globally. Jackson oversaw Apple's commitment to become carbon neutral across its entire business and supply chain by 2030, a commitment that Apple is still on track to meet to this day.

Beyond environmental leadership, Jackson launched Apple's Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) in June 2020 following nationwide protests against racial injustice. Under her leadership, the program more than doubled its initial $100 million commitment to surpass $200 million in investments over three years, focusing on three core pillars: education, economic empowerment, and criminal justice reform. These investments include the creation of the Propel Center--a $25 million global innovation and learning hub serving the entire HBCU community with curriculum in AI, machine learning, social justice, and entrepreneurship. Jackson also expanded the HBCU C \2\ initiative to 45 community coding centers and regional hubs on HBCU campuses, reaching more than 160,000 learners, and committed over $50 million to HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions for STEM opportunities. These investments also include but are not limited to the funding of venture capital firms, Community Development Financial Institutions, and Minority Depository Institutions supporting Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Jackson was also responsible for Apple's worldwide government affairs function, product accessibility work, and education policy programs, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook. She was recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World. Throughout her career, Jackson earned the respect of engineers, environmentalists and peers alike for her deep understanding of the legislative process and her commitment to accuracy and fairness, viewing politics not simply as a beat, but as a public trust, connecting government actions to the people they affect. As she retires, she leaves behind a legacy of integrity, insight, and service to the country. Today, I salute her on an incredible life of service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on a moral crisis unfolding in our country. One that demands the attention of my Republican colleagues and the American people.

Last month, in Portland, Oregon, a seven-year-old girl was detained outside an urgent care clinic while her family sought medical help. Just weeks earlier, a five-year-old was detained while walking home from school in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. These are not isolated incidents. These are children, frightened, vulnerable, and in need of care, caught in an indiscriminate immigration enforcement dragnet.

After their arrests, both children were transferred with their families to the Dilley Family Detention Center in Texas, where reports detail inadequate medical care, limited drinking water, poor nutrition, and little access to education. These are conditions no child should endure, let alone in the custody of the United States government.

Although public outcry and legal intervention led to their release, hundreds of other children remain detained. Many are held for months-- over 180 days on average--in facilities never designed for long-term care. They suffer deep psychological harm: anxiety, depression, and trauma compounded by separation and uncertainty.

Policies implemented through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) are now effectively prolonging detention. Barriers to family reunification, like invasive sponsor requirements and information- sharing with enforcement agencies, trap children in custody, often indefinitely. Some are even pressured to abandon their legal rights and return to dangerous conditions.

This is not who we are. Children seeking safety should not be treated as enforcement targets. They should be protected, cared for, and given a fair chance to pursue their legal rights.

Congress must act. We must conduct oversight, end family detention, restore due process protections, and ensure children are placed in the least restrictive settings.

History will judge us not by our rhetoric, but by whether we chose compassion over cruelty. Let us choose wisely.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a remarkable woman, Mrs. Kang Yop Pak Waiters, who peacefully transitioned on February 14, 2026, at the blessed age of ninety-one. While titles can describe relationships, they cannot fully capture the love she gave or the family she helped build. Though she was technically my older brother Greg's mother-in-law, in truth she became family to all of us. Not in-law family, but real family.

Our families grew up together in Cut Off, Louisiana. We were friends long before we ever imagined our lives would be intertwined the way they are today. Greg met Carolyn, they fell in love, and just like that, what was once, friendship became something even deeper. One big extended family. And Mrs. Waiters stood right in there with that big smile.

She was the kind of woman whose presence made people feel at home. Her kindness was natural. Her generosity was quiet but constant; and her faith anchored everything she did. Many of us felt special in her presence. Truth be told, I always felt like one of her favorites. I suspect I was not the only one who felt that way. That was simply her gift.

Mrs. Waiters was born on March 11, 1934, in Kyonggido, Korea, to the late Nam Dak Pak and Sun-Yee Kang Cumon. From those humble beginnings grew a life defined by strength, grace, and an unshakable devotion to the people she loved. She carried with her the wisdom of her heritage and the warmth of a spirit that welcomed everyone who crossed her path.

She was united in marriage to her beloved husband, James Anthony Waiters, Jr., who preceded her in death. Together they built a family that reflects the very best of love, perseverance, and commitment.

She was a proud grandmother to Norman Randall, III and his wife Sade; Neal Randall; Jamar Waiters and his wife Brittney; her heavenly angel China Christiaan Carter; Christopher Carter; Jade Hall; India Kilgore and her husband John; Hennessy Brown, Jasmin Waiters; James Waiters, IV; Tejah Waiters; and Spencer Waiters.

She was also blessed with a beautiful legacy of great-grandchildren whose lives carry her spirit forward: Baylan Randall; Liam Randall; Ramaj Waiters; Cayden Waiters; Carter Waiters; Marley Waiters; Larry Smith, III; Camron Smith, Savannah Ray Carter; Ahsan Muhammad; Kyro Baptiste, Miquel Kilgore; Jakiah Kilgore; Camden Kilgore; Gianna Kilgore; Qwest Pichon; Qace Brown; and Elias Waiters.

Though Mrs. Waiters never measured her life by wealth, she lived richly in the things that truly matter. Her home was filled with laughter, guidance, and unconditional love. Around her table, family gathered to share not only meals but memories. Her kitchen reflected the beautiful blending of cultures that defined her life: kimchi and bulgogi alongside gumbo; oyster dressing; mirliton; and bread pudding. That table was not just where people ate. It was where family was strengthened.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, and her granddaughter, China Christiaan Carter, my very precious niece. Yet the love she poured into her children, grandchildren, great- grandchildren, and extended family ensures that her legacy will live on for generations.

Mrs. Kang Yop Pak Waiters lived a life of quiet strength, deep faith, and extraordinary love. Her story reminds us that family is not only what we are born into, but what we build together through kindness, loyalty, and shared life.

For my family and for so many others, she was a blessing. Her life was a treasure. Her memory will remain in our hearts forever. May she rest in eternal peace.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with immense pride as we honor a remarkable leader and my mentor, the late Dr. Norman C. Francis. His commitment to advancing education through social justice transformed Louisiana and had a profound impact on this entire Nation.

As the longest-serving president of Xavier University, my alma mater, Dr. Francis set the gold standard for HBCUs, fostering excellence in higher education. His leadership during the civil rights movement was instrumental in breaking down barriers and fighting for equality.

In 2006, Dr. Francis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our Nation's highest civilian honor, in recognition of his deep intellect, compassion, and character. His tireless dedication to uplifting others has left a lasting impact on countless lives, including my own.

Today, I ask for support in granting Dr. Norman C. Francis the distinguished Congressional Gold Medal. This honor would celebrate his lifetime of service and his enduring legacy, ensuring that his works continue to inspire future generations.

I thank Dr. Francis' family for letting him be a part of our lives. I thank Dr. Francis for his extraordinary contributions. His legacy will live forever and continue to light our paths toward a more just society.

Mr. Speaker, history has a way of sending us quiet reminders that the past is never truly past.

One of mine arrives every year on October 26. On October 26, 1919, a child was born in Washington, D.C. who would later help reshape American politics. His name was Edward William Brooke, III.

Forty-four years later, on that same date, October 26, 1963, I was born. Different generations. Different parts of the country. Yet our stories meet at a powerful intersection: the strength of a historically Black college and university education and the determination to lead with purpose in a Nation that has not always welcomed that leadership.

Senator Brooke's journey ran through the proud halls of Howard University. At a time when opportunity was restricted and expectations were narrow, historically Black colleges and universities stood as open doors. They did more than educate. They affirmed dignity, built confidence, and prepared students to step forward even when the world doubted them.

Howard helped prepare Brooke for a life of service. After serving his country in World War II and earning a law degree from Boston University School of Law, he entered public life with discipline and conviction. In 1966, the voters of Massachusetts elected him to the United States Senate, making him the first Black American to be popularly elected to that chamber.

That moment mattered far beyond one state. It showed that the American story could grow larger, even if slowly and unevenly. It reminded young people across the country that preparation and courage can move history forward.

Twenty-five years later, that same spirit of progress touched my own life. Like Senator Brooke, my path was shaped by an HBCU education. I graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana, an institution grounded in faith, scholarship, discipline, and service. Xavier instilled something deeper than academic knowledge. It reinforced character and responsibility. It taught that leadership is measured not by title, but by the difference one makes.

That foundation led me into public service. In 1991, exactly twenty- five years after Senator Brooke's historic election, the people of Louisiana elected me to serve in the Louisiana House of Representatives. I became the first African American to represent my district in that body.

The journey continued, one step at a time. I later had the honor of becoming the first African American elected to represent District C on the New Orleans City Council. Later still, I became the first Black state senator to represent that same community in the Louisiana State Senate.

Today, I have the privilege of serving in the United States Congress representing Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District, and as First Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. I carry those responsibilities mindful of the leaders who opened doors long before my time.

None of those milestones were about personal recognition. They were about progress. They were about making sure the doors of opportunity opened wider for those coming behind us.

Senator Brooke understood that responsibility well. During his time in the Senate, he helped shape the Civil Rights Act of 1968, strengthening protections against housing discrimination. During the Watergate crisis, he also demonstrated uncommon independence and courage by becoming the first Republican senator to call for President Richard Nixon's resignation.

That is what principled leadership looks like. Progress in America has never happened automatically. It has moved forward because people prepared themselves, believed in something larger than themselves, and kept moving even when the path was uncertain.

From the classrooms of Howard to the campus of Xavier. From neighborhoods often overlooked to the halls of government. From local service to national responsibility.

Historically Black colleges and universities have helped prepare generations of leaders for moments they could not yet see.

When I reflect on the fact that Senator Brooke and I share a birthday, and that my own historic election came twenty-five years after his, I am reminded that progress often unfolds across generations. One person

breaks a barrier. Another carries that progress forward. The next builds something stronger still.

From the Westbank of New Orleans and the Cut Off to the United States Congress, my journey has been shaped by faith, family, community, and education. At the center of that story stands the enduring strength of historically Black colleges and universities.

Somewhere today, a student is walking across the campus of an HBCU carrying dreams they may not yet fully understand. Just as Edward Brooke once did. Just as so many of us have. When history calls their name, they will be ready.

Mr. Speaker, for months, Democrats have urged Republicans to come to the table to work together on a clean extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits. Now, we are just days away from the deadline, and Republicans are scrambling to push through an unserious proposal at the eleventh hour. People aren't stupid. They can see this.

Their so-called Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act would have the exact opposite effect than what it claims to do.

Most importantly, it does nothing to extend the ACA tax credits. The tax credits have been a lifeline for countless hardworking families, small business owners, and seniors in Louisiana and across our country, helping them afford coverage in a time when the cost of living continues to climb. This is something that we, as Members of Congress, should do. Without these extensions, their premiums will skyrocket.

Healthcare is not a luxury. It is a fundamental human right.

Mr. Speaker, I stand with Leader Jeffries and House Democrats as we continue our fight for affordable, quality healthcare in this country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, as amended by the Senate, which allows for plant-based milk alternatives to be more easily and readily available for children with lactose intolerance.

This is especially important because the rates of some degree of lactose intolerance in minority communities are startlingly high, more than most people would realize, with approximately 65 percent of Latino students, 75 percent of Black students, 90 percent of Asian students unable to digest dairy milk without detrimental effects.

This portion does, in fact, follow the science. These statistics are real, and they are played out every single day in the classroom.

Not long ago, I had a young lady from Louisiana, a precious little baby girl, who had a horrible accident because the teacher would not allow her to go to the restroom again after complaining of a tummy ache. Unfortunately, this did not end well for this student. She is a beautiful child. She has rebounded wonderfully, and she will be happy to know that going forward she will have an alternative. She doesn't have to contend with her belly aching after consuming something her body simply couldn't digest. Because the school offered no alternative, it was this or nothing. As you know, in many cases, our young people will get nothing if they don't enjoy some nutritional values at school.

Many children may not make the connection between consumption of milk and their feelings of discomfort and even illness. Lactose intolerance causes a range of health effects including stomach pain, severe bloating, gas, diarrhea, and even exacerbated asthma symptoms. These symptoms can hinder a child's ability to concentrate in the classroom, to perform in the classroom, to be attentive in the classroom, and to learn in the classroom.

We should do everything in our power to make sure our children have the best opportunity to concentrate, to learn, to do well, and to be healthy in the classroom.

Currently, children who suffer adverse reactions from traditional milk must produce a doctor's note to receive an alternative beverage, which places an unfair burden squarely on minority children, children of working parents, children whose parents simply don't have the time or the ability, because of the healthcare system crisis, to even see a doctor, let alone get a note from a doctor.

This bill fixes that issue. It contains a provision from bipartisan legislation I filed in each of the last three Congresses to remove the doctor's note requirement for receiving milk alternatives. This bill folds in those measures from my previously filed bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan reform that will allow our children to receive the nutrition they need to feel healthy and have successful lives in and out of school.

While I understand that this bill may not capture every need that is out there--I concede to our ranking member, who I respect greatly, that we have much work to do. However, this bill goes a long way to fix an issue that can simply not wait any longer to be addressed. I urge support for this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership in these Special Order hours.

Mr. Speaker, as we talk about the human costs of expiring healthcare tax credits, these human costs are not just on Democrats. These human costs are on Americans across the board, Republicans and Democrats alike. They are the small business owners who are the backbone, as we often say, of our economy. Yet when given an opportunity to demonstrate to our small business owners that they really matter and that their employees really matter, we play politics.

Today, I want to share the story of Mike Friedman. I met Mike in October, about 1 week before open enrollment began. He was working on a Federal contract at the USDA National Finance Center in New Orleans but lost his job in April because of Federal workforce cuts enacted by Trump, Musk, and DOGE.

His family signed up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act because his husband was also laid off in the spring. Mike had cancer 5 years ago and continues to have outstanding health concerns.

If MAGA Republicans don't join Democrats in extending the ACA tax credit, Mike doesn't know how he or his family will afford healthcare. He told me: I am not unusual in this case. So many others are in the exact same position. He said: I am in the cusp between being retired and not being eligible for Medicare yet. He just turned 61, and the ACA is the only option for his family.

The cost of healthcare is out of control. Republicans have turned the situation into a crisis with the largest Medicaid cut in the history, outrageous threats to Medicare, and relentless targeting of the Affordable Care Act.

This big, pretty some may say, most would say ugly law will hurt Americans of every party, of every background, of every ZIP Code. For 43 days, the Congressional Black Caucus stood firm to protect America's healthcare and lower healthcare costs for people like Mike and so many others that will remain nameless and faceless because they don't always have a voice or a platform from which to plead their case. That is why we are here, for those who may not have a voice, may not have a platform, may not have a lobby, may not have a group to fight for them. We are fighting for them every single day regardless of their name, background, even party because when we are elected to Congress, we are not elected to only represent those who are in our party, but to represent the American people.

This healthcare crisis is an affront to the American people, and I implore my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to do the right thing. Do the right thing. Step up, stand out, fight against injustice and inequality wherever you find it. Demonstrate that to our small business people, our people living with disabilities, our veterans, our working people who go to work every single day who make just a little bit too much money to access Medicaid, but not enough money to pay for their healthcare.

Republicans' failure to extend the ACA tax credits will hurt Louisianians and Americans across this country. It allows premiums to skyrocket for tens of millions of Americans by an average of 114 percent and takes away coverage from around 4 million people.

That is unacceptable by every front. Any way you slice it, it is unacceptable. We are the richest country in the world. This Nation has more than anyone else in the entire world. No one should go to bed hungry. No one should be without a home. No one should fear being sick because they can't access healthcare, not in America.

This is not a partisan issue, my friends. There are a lot of things that we can be partisan about. This isn't one. We only have a few days left to get this right. Let's not let the American people be the sacrificial lamb over some undisputed political battle among parties. Let's not let a person in the White House who seems to care about everything but the American people dictate or drive our actions. We are bigger, we are better. I know you personally. Find the courage to do the right thing. Stand up for the nearly 4 million people who will find themselves without healthcare.

The Congressional Black Caucus is here, and we are not giving up this fight. We will not give up the fight to address the healthcare crisis in our country. We will not give up the fight to fight for those businesspeople who every day create tax dollars and sales taxes for our local governments, that hire people from the community, that provide the resources that keep our economy going. Let's demonstrate to them that they matter. Let's do the right thing. Let's extend the ACA tax credits and show America that we can get our business done and that everything we do is not subject to a red or a blue.

Mr. Speaker, James M. Bernhard, Jr., was a legend in Louisiana. The headlines called him an icon, a titan, a giant of a man. Those who knew him understood why. He was a builder, a problem solver, and, at his core, a man of faith.

Jim was a proud LSU Tiger, graduating in construction management. He loved to tell the story of realizing at the last minute that he was 3 hours short of the credits he needed to graduate. Facing that problem, he decided to test out of a bowling class by scoring a 200, despite barely ever bowling before. In true Jim fashion, with determination and a high tolerance for risk, he figured out how to make it work and to graduate.

After LSU, he went to work for the family business, where every new employee had to start by installing toilets and air-conditioners. As the family's first college graduate and someone who had already done that work since high school, the rule didn't sit right with him. He turned down the offer to join and joined Southeast Fabricators as their first salesman.

On his first day, he picked up the Yellow Pages and got to work. He quickly discovered the company's prices were far too high to compete in south Louisiana. With no formal authority, he restructured the company's operations. By age 26, he was a corporate vice president and member of the board.

In 1986, he faced another challenge. Health insurance premiums were raised on workers, including two employees

whose wives were pregnant. Jim wanted to raise their pay to cover the cost. His boss said no, so Jim handed in his resignation, partnered with two colleagues, and founded National Fabricators with just $50,000.

That company grew into The Shaw Group, a Fortune 500 global engineering powerhouse headquartered in Baton Rouge, at the time, the only non-utility Fortune 500 company in Louisiana. His success brought offers from other States to relocate. With millions of dollars on the table, he refused every one of them.

Jim was Louisiana through and through. His love for the State fueled his political engagement. After years of resisting pressure to get involved in politics, he finally told his board of directors that he was a proud Democrat, to their surprise, and devoted himself to pushing leaders to feed and educate children of all backgrounds, expand healthcare, and lift Louisiana forward.

Jim helped elect two Governors, the first Black mayor of Baton Rouge, and dozens of others across the State. He proudly served as the chairman of the Louisiana Democratic Party.

For years, many waited for Jim to run for Governor or the Senate. His son, one of my most trusted advisers, Tres--you know Tres--told me a secret. He said he was never going to run. He preferred challenging the rest of us to do better. His door was open to Democrats and Republicans alike who wanted to improve the lives of people.

When he retired from Shaw, he faced another problem: what to do next. He founded Bernhard Capital Partners, now one of the largest employers in my district. Remembering that family's business whose terms he once rejected, he joined his brother and transformed it into the largest energy-as-a-service provider in the United States.

Jim's impact stretches far beyond business. Louisianans will tell you Jim pumped the water out of New Orleans after Katrina. He helped build Category 5-strength levees that now protect the city. He built power plants that power America, paid living wages to tens of thousands of workers, expanded broadband for children in Baton Rouge during the pandemic and, with his beloved wife, Dana, founded the Every Kid a King Foundation to serve the children of Louisiana.

None of that compares to what he cherished most: his family. Dana was the great love of his life, his partner, protector, and companion until his last breath. His pride in his children, Tres, Kathryn, Patrick, Michael, and Benjamin, was immeasurable, even if he did joke about two of them going to Ole Miss. He taught them that determination, work ethic, and comfort were risks and that they should continue to live and do the right thing.

He adored his grandchildren, Ainsley, Jack, Remi, Sloane, Blake, Violet, IV, and Ella, and carried bottomless hopes for each of them.

Louisiana has lost one of its greatest champions. Jim Bernhard dedicated his life to improving this State and the lives of people.

Now, when we face a problem, big or small, we honor him by doing what he always did. He solved it.