Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this week, Donald Trump attacked communities across the country that are raising concerns about the proliferation of gigantic, power-hungry data centers. He called them backwards and poor.

According to the President, Americans should welcome data centers without question if they want to become ``successful and rich.'' His exact declaration was: ``Let data reign.''

That is a wildly out-of-touch response to Americans who are worried about their electricity bills, their water supply, and the future of their communities, all of which are being made dramatically worse by this administration.

I represent Phoenix, Arizona, the Nation's fifth largest city, and we don't need any more data centers in our communities right now. We are already on the front lines of a severe and historic water crisis. The Trump administration just slashed our Colorado River water allocation by nearly 30 percent.

Meanwhile, a single data center can consume tens if not hundreds of millions of gallons of water every year. If every currently planned project in the Phoenix area is built, data center water demand could increase by more than 450 percent.

It is extremely alarming, and my constituents are right to express their concerns on how our government allocates its resources, including by providing immense tax breaks to ultra-rich AI and data center companies.

Our electricity grid is also under enormous strain. Arizona families are facing higher utility bills, most especially as a result of Trump's illegal war in Iran, all while data centers demand staggering amounts of energy. Research has found that these facilities can make surrounding neighborhoods as much as four degrees hotter, in a city like Phoenix where extreme heat already kills people.

These are not irrational concerns. Even Vice President JD Vance admitted that 99 percent--his words--of the backlash against data centers is happening in places where they are driving up utility bills.

Protecting Arizona's water is not backwards. Keeping electricity affordable enough for seniors to turn their air conditioners on during the summer is not poor, and allowing the wealthiest companies on the planet to consume our water and power while working families absorb the cost is not progress.

But here is the real reason that Donald Trump is so eager to tell communities to stop pushing back against data centers: Donald Trump is the sole beneficiary of a trust holding nearly 115 million shares of Trump Media. Trump Media is pursuing a pending $6 billion merger with TAE Technologies, an energy company that explicitly markets its technology for AI data center expansion.

In other words, the President himself has an enormous financial interest in a company positioning itself to benefit from the growth of the data center energy market. He is once again using his Presidency to enrich himself and his family.

That creates a glaring conflict of interest when it comes to Trump using the power and platform of the Presidency to attack communities resisting the construction of new data centers.

Americans deserve to know whether he is speaking for the public interest or promoting his own investment portfolio.

I support Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' call for a statewide pause. Arizona should not approve another massive data center until we have a comprehensive plan to protect our water, our electrical grid, and Arizona ratepayers.

Congress also needs to investigate the President's conflict of interest and demand full transparency about how financial holdings intersect with his administration's data center and energy policies.

We can believe in American innovation without handing Big Tech a blank check on our water supply and electricity bills. Arizonans are not backward and poor. We are tired of being told to sacrifice more so that billionaires and the President himself can become richer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of Los Abogados, Arizona's Hispanic Bar Association.

Founded in 1976 by Latino lawyers and law students, Los Abogados has spent five decades building community, creating opportunities, and advancing the interests of Arizona's Latino communities within the legal profession and beyond.

Today, Latinos comprise only approximately 2.5 to 3 percent of licensed attorneys in the United States. Through programming, mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement, Los Abogados works to address the systemic and cultural barriers that Latinos continue to encounter throughout their legal careers.

For 50 years, Los Abogados has remained steadfast in its commitment to diversity and inclusion, advocacy, and education. The Hispanic Bar Association actively promotes diversity within Arizona's legal and judicial professions. Supporting Latino lawyers and expanding their representation is essential to narrowing the significant representation gap and ensuring that our legal system better reflects the communities it serves.

Los Abogados' Civil Rights Committee supports the equitable and just application of civil rights, advocating for Arizona's Latino communities. The committee organizes ``Continuing Legal Education'' seminars to update legal professionals about current voting rights, civic engagement, and racial profiling positions. Additionally, Los Abogados hosts citizenship fairs, providing essential immigration resources and assistance to Arizonans.

As we commemorate this important milestone, we recognize Los Abogados for 50 years of service, advocacy, and leadership. I congratulate its members, past and present, and commend their enduring commitment to strengthening Arizona's legal community and ensuring greater access, representation, and opportunity for all.

On behalf of the United States Congress, I extend my deepest gratitude and congratulations to Los Abogados on their 50th Anniversary.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Tony F. Soza/Ray Martinez American Legion Post 41, a pillar of service, patriotism, and community leadership in Arizona. For generations, Post 41 has exemplified the values of duty, sacrifice, and civic engagement, ensuring that the men and women who have worn our Nation's uniform continue to receive the support, respect, and fellowship they have earned.

American Legion Post 41 has long served as more than a gathering place for veterans, it has been a cornerstone of the community. Through advocacy, mentorship, commemorative events, youth engagement, and support for veterans and their families, the Post has strengthened the bonds between those who have served and the communities they call home. Its members have demonstrated that military service does not end with the completion of a tour of duty, but continues through a lifelong commitment to serving others.

As we honor Post 41, we also recognize the enduring contributions of Latino veterans, whose courage and dedication have helped shape the history of Arizona and the United States. From the battlefields of World War II to today's all-volunteer force, Latino servicemembers have answered our Nation's call with distinction, often overcoming barriers while serving with extraordinary valor. Their service has strengthened our Armed Forces and enriched our communities through leadership, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our shared democratic values.

Arizona is home to a proud and vibrant Latino veteran community whose members continue to lead as entrepreneurs, educators, public servants, first responders, and mentors. Their legacy extends well beyond military service, inspiring future generations to embrace lives of service and civic responsibility. Organizations such as American Legion Post 41 play an essential role in preserving that legacy by providing a welcoming space where veterans can find camaraderie, advocacy, and opportunities to continue making a difference.

The work of American Legion Post 41 reminds us that supporting our veterans is not merely an obligation, it reflects our Nation's highest ideals. Through its dedication to honoring those who served, promoting patriotism, and strengthening the community, the Post has made an enduring impact on Arizona and has helped ensure that the sacrifices of our veterans are never forgotten.

It is therefore my distinct honor to recognize Tony F. Soza/Ray Martinez American Legion Post 41 for its outstanding service to veterans, its steadfast commitment to the people of Arizona, and its role in uplifting the legacy of Latino veterans across our state and throughout our Nation. On behalf of the people of Arizona's 3rd Congressional District and a grateful Nation, I extend my sincere appreciation and best wishes for many more years of continued service and success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the life and legacy of Alfonso ``Al'' Rodriguez, a beloved mentor, community leader, and pillar of Arizona's boxing community. After more than six decades of dedicated service to young people and boxers across the Valley, Rodriguez passed away on July 6, 2026. While his passing marks the end of an extraordinary life, his legacy will endure through the countless lives he impacted and through the continued work of the Rodriguez Boxing Club.

Al and his wife, Carmen Rodriguez, moved from Texas to Arizona, where they raised five children: Al Rodriguez, Jr., Carolina Olmos, Ofelia Hooper, Fernando Rodriguez, and Seferino ``Sefe'' Rodriguez. As a third-generation boxer, Al founded the Rodriguez Boxing Club in the backyard of his Mesa home in 1961, where he began coaching his children while instilling in them the notion that everyone is a ``diamond in the rough''. To Al, every individual possessed the potential to become a champion, both inside and outside the ring.

That belief became the foundation of the Rodriguez Boxing Club, a gym in the heart of downtown Phoenix and a refuge for generations of young people. For decades, the gym has provided a safe, welcoming environment where youth can develop discipline, confidence, and resilience. Operating as a non-profit organization, the Rodriguez Boxing Club has remained committed to ensuring that it is accessible to all members of the community.

Today, Al's children continue to carry forward his mission with the same compassion, dedication, and commitment to service that defined their father's life. Through their leadership, the Rodriguez Boxing Club remains a testament to Al's enduring belief in the transformative power of mentorship, opportunity, and community.

It is my privilege to recognize the remarkable life of Alfonso ``Al'' Rodriguez and to honor his more than six decades of service to Arizona's 3rd Congressional District.

Madam Speaker, ICE, the President's paramilitary secret police force, continues to roam American streets and murder people in broad daylight and in cold blood.

First, it was Ruben Ray Martinez in March 2025, but ICE covered it up and kept it from the public.

Then, it was Alex Pretti and Renee Good. ICE shot and killed these two innocent people in Minnesota who had done nothing more than exercise their constitutional right to protest and free speech.

Then, the administration's rightwing propaganda machine got to work, smearing these two heroes as ``domestic terrorists,'' without an ounce of evidence. This was coordinated and directed by leadership of the Department of Homeland Security, by then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and by the White House itself through heinous, racist voices like Stephen Miller.

It is not a mistake. ICE agents are completely out of control, and that is on purpose. That is their mission.

This is what the Trump administration wanted to happen from the start--to funnel hundreds of billions of dollars to their paramilitary force and then use masked agents and a nationwide effort to spread fear and terrorize immigrant communities.

The mass deportation agenda is part of their fascist, far-right scheme to amass power by using immigrants as scapegoats and deploying Federal troops to American cities, like my hometown of Phoenix.

All across this country, people are shocked, outraged, and appalled by ICE's conduct and the sheer cruelty of Trump's mass deportation agenda. Yet, it continues to happen in service of arbitrary, brutal quotas for bodies--quotas for bodies of real people to fill beds so that for-profit prison companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic can rake in billions of dollars and families can be torn apart and deported to third countries they have never known.

We are talking about 10,000 arrests in a 5-day period this past week. As part of all of these horrors, ICE has carried out two sickening murders just in the last week: one in Houston and one in Maine.

ICE is using pathetic excuses and spreading more misleading information with the Federal Government's bully pulpit to cover up their crimes.

This is Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old father who was driving to work and was shot and murdered while doing so. He was not a domestic terrorist. He wasn't going to ram his vehicle into anybody. He had no criminal record whatsoever. He was a hardworking, beloved father of American citizens who was working hard to build the American Dream.

If you haven't watched his son Ronaldo speak about his dad, I recommend you do so. It is heart-wrenching.

It is outrageous that ICE is claiming Lorenzo ``weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer.'' Multiple witnesses have testified that there were never any ICE agents in front of the van. They came in and started shooting from the sides.

As with Alex Pretti and Renee Good, ICE is lying and lying badly. I honestly cannot believe how terrible their lies are.

That wasn't enough. ICE murdered another person in Maine, 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero, somebody who had a work permit, somebody who had a U.S. Social Security number. Then, DHS put out a statement just yesterday, just last night, that said that this man was trying to drive away, and they shot him for these vague assertions of public safety.

ICE murdered a Maine resident, a law-abiding resident, in front of his wife and his 3-year-old daughter for no reason whatsoever. This is just pure evil.

Democrats in Congress have been demanding accountability for well over a year. We are a nation of laws, not a nation of secret police, cold-blooded murders by Federal agents on city streets, and black site detention centers.

We must urgently work to stop these horrific abuses. It is a moral stain on our country. We must abolish ICE, and we are going to prosecute every single person responsible for directing, enabling, or carrying out these crimes.

Lives are at stake. How many more families and communities need to be torn apart for Republicans in Congress to do something?

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 234.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Jeff Kulaga upon his retirement as Town Manager of the Town of Guadalupe, Arizona, and to thank him for more than three decades of distinguished public service to communities across our state.

Since his unanimous appointment as Town Manager and Town Clerk in 2017, Jeff Kulaga has served the people of Guadalupe with integrity, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to community improvement. In addition to overseeing the Town's day-to-day operations and implementing Town Council policy, he has taken on numerous responsibilities including serving as Guadalupe's Chief Financial Officer, Zoning Administrator, Business License Administrator, Cemetery Administrator, and Community Development Director. Under his leadership, the Town has continued to advance opportunities for residents while responsibly managing an annual budget of more than $11 million.

Jeff's career in public service spans more than 30 years in Arizona municipal government. Prior to his time in Guadalupe, he served as Assistant City Manager for the City of Tempe and held multiple leadership roles in Mesa and Scottsdale, including Government Relations Director and Executive Assistant to the Mayor. Throughout each chapter of his career, he has earned the respect of colleagues, elected officials, and community members alike for his thoughtful leadership and collaborative approach to governance.

Our office has had the privilege of working closely with Jeff on projects that directly improve the quality of life for Guadalupe residents. Most notably, we were proud to partner with the Town to help secure $2 million for the refurbishment of Biehn Colony Park, an investment that will help preserve and revitalize an important community space for generations to come. Jeff's advocacy for Guadalupe and his ability to bring partners together played an instrumental role in advancing this effort.

A proud ``Double Devil,'' Jeff earned both his Bachelor of Science degree and Master's degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University. He has remained deeply engaged in civic and professional organizations throughout his career, including the Arizona City and County Management Association, the Arizona Municipal Clerks Association, and the Urban Land Institute.

Jeff Kulaga's career reflects the very best of public service: steady leadership, institutional knowledge, and a deep belief in serving others. On behalf of Arizona's 3rd Congressional District, I extend my sincere gratitude for his years of service and wish him, his family, and loved ones continued success and fulfillment in this next chapter.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Iranian Temporary Immigration Relief Act, legislation I introduced alongside Congressman Tom Suozzi to provide temporary protected status and work authorization to eligible Iranian nationals already living in the United States.

Our bill is about fairness. It is about keeping a promise to people who followed the law, complied with every immigration requirement, and came to this country to study, research, innovate, and contribute.

It is also personal to me. My father came to the United States as a student. Like so many others I have met in Arizona, he came here legally, pursued his education, and built a life grounded in opportunity and hard work.

These stories are not unique. They are shared by thousands of Iranian students and researchers who now find themselves caught in uncertainty through no fault of their own.

Just in Arizona, I have heard from dozens of students, scientists, engineers, and researchers whose lives have been thrown into limbo by the chaos unleashed by the Trump administration. These are real people contributing to America's future.

One Arizona State University graduate earned a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering, researching biomedical technologies for neurological diseases through NIH-funded projects. He secured a very competitive position at the Mayo Clinic to continue federally funded medical research, but because his employment authorization remains frozen, he has spent months unable to work, without income, and without health insurance.

Another researcher at ASU completed her Ph.D. studying how lighting and design affect migraine patients, older adults, and individuals with Alzheimer's disease. She had a job offer waiting for her at a major architecture and design firm in Arizona. She did everything right. She filed every document on time, yet she still cannot begin her work because her case remains stuck in administrative limbo created by the Trump administration.

I heard from a Ph.D. researcher working on artificial intelligence for power grid reliability, crucial in my State. His research was recognized in the Department of Energy's competition, and yet despite receiving job opportunities from American employers, he cannot legally begin contributing those skills.

I heard from a biomedical researcher working on brain cancer drug development at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Her work has already contributed to projects that advanced into human clinical trials in Arizona. She came to the United States to help sick people and advance science. Instead, she now faces the possibility of being forced to leave this country just as she nears completion of her doctorate.

I also heard from an Iranian Ph.D. student in public health whose husband waited nearly 2 years in administrative processing for a dependent visa, only to be ultimately denied after chaotic Trump policies prevented him from getting the visa he was promised. After 10 years of marriage, they are now separated indefinitely.

These individuals are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for their lawful applications to be processed fairly, and they are asking not to be punished because of where they were born.

These students and researchers are conducting NIH-funded cancer research, developing biomedical technologies, strengthening artificial intelligence systems, improving public health, advancing clean energy reliability, and helping American universities and employers remain globally competitive.

The United States spent taxpayer dollars on training many of these individuals. American universities recruited them. Federal grants supported their research, and American hospitals and companies have offered them jobs. Now, after years of education and contribution, we are telling them they may not be allowed to continue their work and could be forced to return to Iran amid a dire human rights crisis worsened by ongoing hostilities and increased repression by the Islamic Republic.

Many Iranians residing in the United States have participated in anti-Islamic Republic regime and prodemocracy demonstrations in recent years, putting them at greater risk of persecution in Iran.

My bill grants temporary protected status and work authorization to eligible Iranian nationals legally present in the United States while their immigration matters remain pending. Importantly, this legislation includes safeguards to ensure that individuals connected to the Islamic Republic are not eligible for relief. It is targeted relief for ordinary civilians, students, researchers, scientists, families, and professionals who have complied with the law and built lives in our communities.

As the first Iranian-American Democrat elected to Congress, I know personally how deeply these stories resonate across our communities, but this issue is larger than any one community. It is about whether America remains a country that rewards talent, values fairness, supports scientific innovation, and honors due process.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the Iranian Temporary Immigration Relief Act.

Mr. Speaker, the $1.8 billion slush fund for insurrectionist cop beaters is one of the most disgraceful, corrupt exercises of Donald Trump's entire Presidency, and that is saying something. Every single Member of Congress needs to go on record as to where they stand on this issue.

The people who stormed the Capitol, attacked police officers, submitted fake electors, lied to election officials, and called to ``hang Mike Pence'' deserve jail time, not my constituents' taxpayer dollars. Even Republicans are appalled and can't stomach this grotesque betrayal of our democracy.

While Americans struggle to afford healthcare and housing and their gas prices keep climbing as a result of the President's reckless and illegal war, Donald Trump is fixated not on the American people but on his $400 million ballroom, renaming the Kennedy Center, covering up the Epstein files, and this outrageous slush fund for insurrectionists and his political allies.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my Republican colleagues to join Democrats in voting to permanently block this slush fund

for Oath Keepers and Proud Boys and stand up to Donald Trump. Reject the previous question motion so we can take a vote on the slush fund and assert the will of the American people. Find your backbone for once and let's get together to vote to rein in this out-of-control President.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the centennial anniversary of the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, an enduring institution that has served as a cornerstone of African American history, culture, education, and community life in Arizona for 100 years. Since its founding in 1926 as the segregated Phoenix Union Colored High School, what once was a symbol of separation, is now a pillar of community, education and perseverance.

Today, the Carver is recognized as a national historic landmark dedicated to preserving, documenting, studying, and sharing the history and culture of African Americans in Arizona and throughout the American West. Through its exhibits, educational programs, seminars, cultural events, and community initiatives, the organization continues to foster creativity, learning, and socio-economic advancement while ensuring that the stories and contributions of Black Arizonans are honored and preserved for future generations.

For a century, the Carver has maintained deep roots within the community, creating welcoming spaces for dialogue, artistic expression, historical reflection, and civic engagement. Its commitment to inclusion, multigenerational learning, and accessible community programming has strengthened neighborhoods, empowered families, and inspired countless young people to pursue lives of leadership and service. Through events such as historical seminars, cultural celebrations, speaker series, and Juneteenth commemorations, the Carver continues to bring people together in unity and shared purpose.

This extraordinary milestone is a testament to the outstanding leadership, dedication, and vision of the Carver's board members, staff, volunteers, educators, alumni, and community partners, past and present. Their stewardship has transformed the Carver into not only a guardian of history, but also a living center of culture, education, and empowerment for communities across Arizona. Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker and the organization's dedicated team, the Carver continues to expand its impact while remaining firmly grounded in its historic mission.

As the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center celebrates its 100th Anniversary and looks ``100 Years Forward,'' we recognize its immeasurable contributions to Arizona's cultural and civic life. May its legacy of education, inclusion, resilience, and community leadership continue to inspire generations to come.

On behalf of the United States Congress, I extend my deepest gratitude and congratulations to the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center on this remarkable centennial celebration.

Mr. Speaker, on May 12, 2026, Oversight Committee Democrats convened the first-ever hearing to solicit testimony from survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes. The hearing, ``Survivors

Fight for Justice: Exposing Epstein's Crimes in Palm Beach and Across the World,'' marked a critical step forward in the fight for justice and accountability.

On behalf of all the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes, I rise to include in the Record the testimony offered by Ms. Jena-Lisa Jones:

Chairman, Ranking Member, and Members of Congress, my name

is Jena-Lisa Jones. I was 14 years old when I was abused by

Jeffrey Epstein in Palm Beach. It has taken me many years to

find my voice. For a long time, I stayed silent because I was

afraid--and because I did not understand why this happened to

me. When I finally came forward, I made a commitment to use

my voice responsibly. I am here today to do exactly that.

Last September, I went to Washington, D.C., alongside other

survivors, with a simple request: transparency and

accountability. We asked you to help us understand how

Jeffrey Epstein was given a non-prosecution agreement, even

though the government had evidence that he had sexually

abused dozens of children, including me. We asked how he was

allowed to leave jail in 2009 and continue harming young

girls. We asked for answers--answers that would hold our

government accountable for its actions. We still do not have

those answers.

Instead, what we received caused harm all over again,

including to many of our survivor sisters who had never come

forward before and who never wanted their names or abuse to

become public. The Department of Justice released documents

that exposed our names, our Social Security numbers, and

deeply personal information. Survivors' identities were made

public. Husbands learned about the abuse of their wives for

the first time. Children learned about the abuse of their

mothers from reporters, from strangers on the internet, and,

in some cases, from other kids at school. Some survivors

learned that friends had also been abused only because they

saw their names in those documents. Others saw the most

intimate details of their own trauma publicly exposed. Our

privacy was violated. The government promised us, over and

over again, that our information would be protected and

properly redacted. Those promises were broken.

This is not the transparency we asked for. It is not the

transparency our government should ever have wanted, allowed,

or defended. In fact, this was not transparency at all. This

was re-traumatization. We came to you seeking answers for why

our rights were violated in 2007. And in the process of

asking for those answers, our rights were violated again. I

want to believe that each of you in this room is listening

because you truly care--not just about us, but about every

child in this country who survives sexual abuse.

If Congress and the Department of Justice truly want to do

right by survivors, the path forward is not complicated:

acknowledge the failures--when Jeffrey Epstein was set free

in 2009, and again when our privacy was shattered earlier

this year. Take responsibility. And provide meaningful

remedies to the women who have been harmed, over and over

again. Please do not force us to relive this through more

litigation against the very government that promised to

protect us, You are the government too. You have the power to

make this right--to ensure the Department of Justice does

right by survivors and gives us some measure of justice,

however small, for these profound violations of our privacy.

Please, pass a law requiring the Department of Justice to

compensate victims for the harm that was caused by releasing

their names and information. That would show that this is

truly about helping victims. With respect to your ongoing

investigations, please remember this: Jeffrey Epstein is

dead. Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison.

But for many of us, this is not in the past--and it may

never feel like it is. It continues to live on through

repeated exposure, through ongoing investigations, and

through being asked, again and again, to relive what we

endured.

Mr. President, do not pardon Ghislaine Maxwell. If there

are other men who hurt women, then hold them accountable.

But please--leave the survivors alone. If you have

subpoenaed someone to testify before your committees and she

tells you she is a victim, listen to her. Believe her.

Respect her trauma. Sharing our stories should be a choice--

the choice I was able to make today. It should never be

something survivors are forced to do. The girls who were

groomed by Ghislaine Maxwell and abused by Jeffrey Epstein

should not be treated like criminals. Please, I implore you:

learn the stories of the women who have been harmed before

you force them to testify--before a room full of strangers--

about the worst moments of their lives. Jeffrey Epstein

destroyed so many of our lives, and Ghislaine Maxwell helped

him do it. Do not blame their survivors for the crime of

abusers. That is not how this story should end. Find a way to

bring closure to the story of Jeffrey Epstein--to allow

survivors, and this country, to finally begin to move forward

so that one day (and I pray soon) Jeffrey Epstein's name is

no longer something we are forced to hear every single day. I

am not here today only to talk about the past. I am here for

the children who are sitting in classrooms today--children

who may be vulnerable, confused, and unsure of what is

happening to them.

When I was a teenager, I did not have the language to

understand what was happening to me. I did not know who to

tell. I did not know where to go. Many of us didn't. We were

young, and we were manipulated. We were left without the

tools or the support systems we needed. That is something

Congress can change.

Every middle school and high school student in this country

should receive education on the signs of sexual abuse and

exploitation--what it looks like, how to recognize it, and

how to safely report it. Schools should have trained adults

and accessible resources so that no child feels as lost or as

alone as we did. I have worked with other survivors to start

a nonprofit organization called The Survivors, Inc., because

not everyone who has been abused has access to strong legal

representation, therapy, or support systems. I became a

certified life coach because I believe in giving others the

support I wish I had. Through The Survivors, we are able to

provide life coaching services to people who have been abused

so they can begin to find their way forward. I am proud of

that work. But individual efforts are not enough. Real change

requires leadership at the national level.

You have the power to make sure that what happened to us

does not happen again on this scale. I believe one of the

most important places to begin is in our schools. Train

teachers. Educate students. Give children a place to turn

when they feel they have nowhere else to go. Together, we can

do better--for the next generation--through education,

awareness, and making sure help is always within reach. Most

importantly, I can't imagine how busy you must be, so thank

you all for taking the time to be here today.

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

My constituents and Americans across the country are struggling under the rising costs of gas, groceries, and electricity from President Trump's tariffs and endless wars. We should be spending our time finding ways to lower costs for families. Instead, we are moving on legislation that is just another chapter in the Republican playbook to gut commonsense safeguards for energy development.

I am a strong supporter of geothermal energy. Geothermal is a clean, reliable, affordable, and abundant form of electricity. Unfortunately, I have to oppose H.R. 5587, the HEATS Act, on the floor today.

This is a complex issue. The bill waives the requirement for a Federal drilling permit if a project starts on private or State lands and then drills underground into Federal lands, provided the total project is made up of less than 50 percent Federal subsurface land.

The bill says these projects don't need to do any analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. They don't need to comply with the Endangered Species Act. They don't need to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act so long as the State has any law that vaguely ``addresses the preservation of historic properties.''

The majority says that this is about reducing duplicative reviews, but I see it as an irresponsible waiver of the Federal Government's obligation to steward our Federal resources.

In practice, this means that in areas where the Federal Government owns the underground mineral rights but a rancher owns the surface rights to graze their cattle, or a farmer to grow their crops, underground development could take place without that landowner even knowing and without sufficient protections in place.

The permit to drill process is the process surface landowners use to work with developers to make sure their lands and resources, like groundwater they depend on for their wells or springs, are protected when developers are drilling into Federal minerals.

We are not talking about developers just tapping into a few feet of underground Federal lands. Geothermal wells can extend horizontally for kilometers.

While geothermal energy is exponentially safer than oil and gas development, that doesn't mean that developers should just skip their environmental reviews altogether.

Landowners and communities have the right to provide input into how public lands are developed, whether that development is on the surface of the land or below it.

Again, I am a strong supporter of geothermal energy. It provides 24/7 carbon-free energy and creates good jobs in the clean energy economy.

For decades, geothermal energy was confined to naturally occurring hot water reservoirs, but recent technological breakthroughs have created next-generation geothermal systems that can be deployed in a wide range of conditions at competitive prices.

At this rate of innovation, low-cost, next-generation geothermal could soon be possible all across the country, not in decades but in the next few years.

This could be truly transformational for our energy system. Paired with wind and solar, geothermal can help us break free from fossil fuels and build a reliable, homegrown energy system that we need to fight climate change and tackle the affordability crisis.

I have a bill, the Geothermal Gold Book Development Act, that is part of the package of six bills, three from Democrats and three from Republicans, that the Natural Resources Committee passed out of committee by unanimous consent.

These bills, including my own, would all help make permitting easier for geothermal through commonsense ways like increased coordination at BLM field offices, cost-recovery authority, and some categorical exclusions that already exist for oil and gas development on previously disturbed lands.

Those are the kinds of things that we should focus on that will actually help move the needle on projects.

I have heard arguments that we should provide these waivers so that the Bureau of Land Management's limited staff can focus on bigger problems. I agree that staff in BLM field offices are overworked and understaffed.

However, let's be honest about the situation. The Bureau of Land Management doesn't have enough staff because the President continues to try to zero out the budget for renewable energy, and former Presidential aide Elon Musk kicked off across-the-board staff cuts.

You cannot break the system, then blame the broken system as your excuse to waive the law. When we waive

those Federal review obligations, we end up relying on a patchwork of State laws.

Under State laws, what happens to the government-to-government consultation responsibilities required by the National Historic Preservation Act or federally protected endangered species? What if a State doesn't provide opportunities for public input or even public notice?

Again, I strongly support geothermal energy development on our Federal lands. It is a very promising and growing source of energy. But instead of spending floor time on geothermal legislation that everyone supports and could help stop skyrocketing electricity bills, we are debating a bill to solve a problem that may not even be a burden on the industry.

I am happy to continue to work across the aisle to advance geothermal legislation, but, unfortunately, I must oppose this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, even good energy sources need good permitting policy. I am a strong supporter of geothermal energy, but the HEATS Act could undermine the on-the-ground support and good environmental track record geothermal currently enjoys.

The HEATS Act empowers one set of landowners at the expense of their neighbors. This bill allows developers to skip Federal permitting when drilling from their property into federally owned subsurface minerals which often sit under a neighbor's private property.

The Federal permit process gives surface landowners who happen to live above Federal minerals a say in what happens beneath their homes. What happens underground doesn't always stay underground. Drilling can cause earthquakes and sinkholes or accidentally contaminate drinking or irrigation water.

State laws do not always require the same protections for surface landowners, especially if they are not the ones doing the drilling. Without a Federal drilling permit, the Federal Government can't require financial assurances from developers to cover the costs of cleanup if surface damages do happen. That means landowners or Federal taxpayers will be on the hook to pay for the cleanup.

This bill would eliminate real, meaningful protections for landowners, not just red tape.

I am disappointed that this is the bill that the majority has chosen to bring to the House floor rather than the bipartisan package of real, commonsense permitting solutions for geothermal that the Natural Resources Committee unanimously supported.

That package includes my own Geothermal Gold Book Development Act to standardized best permitting practices across the Bureau of Land Management to responsibly speed up geothermal development. I hope to keep working across the aisle to advance geothermal energy, but this particular bill is a step in the wrong direction.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an extraordinary community leader, Miguel Alvarado, of Guadalupe, Arizona. For decades, Miguel has exemplified what it means to serve others, not for recognition, but out of a deep and abiding commitment to his neighbors. His work reflects the very best of community leadership: consistent, compassionate, and rooted in bringing people together.

For 25 years, Miguel has led the Guadalupe Car Show, an event that has become a cherished tradition and a source of pride for the community. Beyond celebrating culture and craftsmanship, the event has served as a unifying force, bringing together families, local organizations, and residents from all walks of life. Through this work, Miguel has helped strengthen the social fabric of Guadalupe year after year.

Miguel's commitment extends far beyond a single event. For over 15 years, he has organized a Back to School event providing free food, haircuts, backpacks, and entertainment to families preparing for the school year. He has also dedicated more than 15 years to hosting a Christmas celebration for local families, ensuring children experience the joy of the holiday season through gifts, meals, and community connection. Additionally, for over a decade, Miguel has helped provide more than 50 turkeys annually to families in need during the Thanksgiving season, ensuring that no neighbor is left behind.

None of this work happens alone. Miguel's leadership has inspired a network of support throughout Guadalupe, including his car club, The Intimidations, and countless community members who rally behind his efforts. His impact is measured not only in years of service,

but in the lives he has touched and uplifted. It is my honor to recognize Miguel Alvarado for his unwavering dedication and to thank him for being a pillar of the Guadalupe community.

Mr. Speaker, let's talk about naked, open, brazen corruption. The Trump administration is guided and shaped by it, emboldened by what they can get away with while the American taxpayer watches their own hard-earned paycheck siphoned away by ever-growing gas prices, groceries, rent, and healthcare. All the while, Donald Trump flaunts his White House ballroom and D.C. arch, with displays of nauseating corruption for his billionaire buddies in broad daylight.

Take Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, a man with no meaningful political, diplomatic, or civil service experience, who was handed sweeping authority during the first Trump administration over Middle East policy and was sent across the world to represent the United States. At the same time, his family's real estate empire in New York was in trouble after years of mismanagement and actively seeking foreign investment. He sure found it.

Kushner was shaping U.S. foreign policy while simultaneously building relationships with foreign leaders that would later become financially valuable to him personally. He was acting as a diplomat for himself at the expense of America's interests abroad and our national security.

Kushner communicated directly with wealthy, high-ranking officials like Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, using unsecured and unauthorized channels like WhatsApp, with limited or no transparency and recordkeeping regarding these official and ethically dubious conversations.

Nothing has changed since the first Trump administration. In fact, it has only gotten worse. They no longer even pretend to hide it.

While Kushner and Trump ally and billionaire friend Steve Witkoff meet with Gulf countries about matters pertaining to U.S. national security, they are also directly involved with selling massive billion- dollar deals to friends and family of the President. It is the largest corruption scandal ever seen in the United States, leading back directly to Donald Trump, members of his family, and top administration officials.

Kushner is a private citizen. He is not subject to the rules and regulations of actual public servants, including background checks and requirements for security clearance. He is negotiating America's foreign policy and matters of literal war and peace between the United States and Iran--some of the most consequential negotiations of the 21st century.

Meanwhile, new reporting from The New York Times shows that Kushner is simultaneously soliciting $5 billion in new investment from the very same foreign governments with a direct stake in these negotiations.

It would be too outlandish for a movie script. Yet, this is the reality in America today: an elite ruling class that makes policy decisions based on how it will affect their personal bottom line and using taxpayer-funded government to get rich at our expense.

I mean, Trump is literally suing the IRS, which he controls, for $10 billion--money straight from the taxpayers into his own pocket.

There is hope. All across the world, people are organizing and uniting against corrupt leaders who view government as a tool to enrich themselves and their friends. In Hungary, after 16 years of democratic backsliding in a state molded into a piggy bank for the elite, a broad coalition defeated Viktor Orban, despite him doing literally everything he could to rig the system in his own favor.

Hungary shows us that there is a path forward: follow the money, take no vote for granted, and make corruption shameful again.

When Democrats take back the House in November, I will work to ensure that subpoenas fly out for every taxpayer dollar and cent that Trump and his family have spent during their time in office steering into their own pockets. Kushner will come under oath and testify, and accountability will not stop there.

Recognizing Miguel Alvarado

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Miguel Alvarado of Guadalupe, Arizona, a man deeply respected in our community.

For over two decades, Miguel has shown up for his neighbors with consistency and with heart. For 25 years, he has led the Guadalupe Car Show, a tradition that brings thousands together to celebrate culture, creativity, and community pride.

The 25th Anniversary Guadalupe Car Show returns on Sunday, April 26, transforming downtown Guadalupe into a vibrant festival with lowriders, classic cars, and custom builds, drawing 10,000 to 15,000 attendees from across Arizona. It is a must-attend event for families and car enthusiasts alike.

Beyond the car show, Miguel has organized events for over 15 years that support local families, including a back-to-school drive and a Christmas celebration, bringing joy and gifts to children. For more than a decade, he has also provided turkeys to families in need during the holidays.

Mr. Speaker, Miguel's work brings people together, building a network of volunteers committed to giving back. He reminds us that strong communities are built by those who show up. I am proud to represent him in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in outrage over the negligence that led to the death of Emmanuel Clifford Damas on March 2, 2026.

Emmanuel Damas was a 56-year-old Haitian asylum seeker who died after reportedly being denied adequate medical care while in ICE custody after complaining about a toothache to the staff at Florence Correctional Center in Arizona.

On March 13, I traveled to the Florence Correctional Center to conduct an oversight visit. I was met by more than a dozen people, including, to my surprise, private counsel for CoreCivic, the company that operates the facility and profits from mass detention.

When I asked basic questions about medical staffing, available care, and what happened to Mr. Damas, there was extreme reluctance, especially from the private lawyer.

Under DHS leadership, and masterminded by Stephen Miller, the architect of the Trump administration's racist mass deportation agenda, ICE has made it nearly impossible for Members of Congress to do our jobs.

Despite following ICE's arbitrary requirements, I was denied the ability to speak with detainees that day. I returned on March 20 and what I learned confirmed the worst. Detainees described Mr. Damas in excruciating pain. They called the medical care ``fatal.'' His face had swollen to the size of a potato. He could no longer speak or walk. Night after night, he begged for help but was ignored. ICE only checked his blood pressure. By the time he was taken to the hospital, he could barely breathe.

Mr. Damas' death was a clear case of medical negligence at the hands of ICE. I have called for a full independent investigation into Mr. Damas' death, including the release of his medical examiner's report, a complete timeline of his care, and all medical records from his time in custody.

My heart goes out to the Damas family. They should never have experienced such a tragedy, perpetrated by the U.S. Government and funded by our taxpayer dollars.

These taxpayer dollars should be going to healthcare, to food assistance, and programs that support communities.

Mr. Speaker, this is not the only case. My constituent, Yari, is currently detained while suffering from leukemia. She has endured severe medical neglect for over a year. What happened to Mr. Damas could very well happen to her. Every time I visit these detention facilities, it brings me to tears. It is sickening. It is traumatizing. It is deeply un-American.

Firstly, I will not stop until there is an independent investigation into the death of Emmanuel Damas. At least 46 people have died in ICE custody under the Trump regime, and it cannot stand.

Second, I will be a ``hell no'' on ICE funding. Republicans are blocking essential workers from being paid just to protect a lawless, violent ICE system, while Democrats are pushing to separate ICE funding from the rest of the Department of Homeland Security.

Third, I urge my colleagues to sponsor my DRAIN ICE Act and the Stop Inhumane Conditions in ICE Detention Act. These bills would rescind ICE's $75 billion slush fund and improve oversight, transparency, and conditions in detention centers.

Fourth, release my constituent, Yari, now so she can receive the care that she needs.

Finally, it should not be that damn difficult to provide humane conditions. ICE and companies like CoreCivic and GEO Group have billions of dollars at their disposal, and yet are choosing to treat human beings in this country like animals.

I will keep fighting until the American people know the truth about what is happening in ICE detention centers.