Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day to celebrate the extraordinary life of my dear brother and friend, Dr. John Louis Flateau, who was laid to rest this past Wednesday.

Dr. Flateau, a beloved scholar and public servant, dedicated his life to championing justice, equality, public service, and political empowerment.

His contributions spanned politics, education, and advocacy, leaving an indelible mark on Brooklyn, New York City, and New York State.

His legacy extends beyond the policies he championed. It lives on in the lives of many he touched. He was not merely a legislative force. He was a force to be reckoned with. He was a friend, confidant, and political mentor to so many, including both me and my mother, Dr. Una Clarke.

He had a profound impact on the lives of so many, from his tenure as a Medgar Evers College professor to his work in advancing voting rights.

As we reflect on Dr. Flateau's life, let us remember the countless stories of those who found hope and empowerment through his advocacy.

In his absence, we must continue to carry the torch that he lit to ensure that his vision continues to manifest itself.

Though Dr. Flateau may no longer be physically with us, the impact he made will echo on from generation to generation to come.

He is now with the ancestors, and he will be dearly and deeply missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day in opposition to the continuing resolution, which includes the Republican extreme and restrictive immigration and border security legislation, H.R. 2.

This cruel legislation would force draconian restrictions and punishments on migrants and asylum seekers and set America's immigration priorities back decades. This bill would damage the asylum system, a process millions upon millions of vulnerable and desperate people and families have long depended on for their safety and future.

Instead of putting forth legislation that can pass the Senate and avert a government shutdown, extreme Republicans would rather hold the economy and border security hostage, throwing millions of lives into a tailspin.

Let's be clear. Any bill that would allow vulnerable migrant children to be inhumanely detained by Border Patrol for up to a month, to be ripped from their families and locked up from the world, is unacceptable. It is fundamentally un-American.

To treat innocent people who are looking for a better life in our Nation with such contempt, such vitriol, such callousness, while also making American families vulnerable in putting food on their tables, that is not leadership. It is called cowardice.

Every American, no matter how long their families have called this country their own, should be outraged at the GOP embracing the Trump administration's failed and immoral border policies to keep the government open.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of a New York City icon, the honorable Albert Vann.

After four decades of service as a progressive New York State and New York City legislator, Councilmember Albert Vann passed away 1 year ago today.

His contributions have enshrined him as a multigenerational champion of equity and justice for those needing it most.

He understood the importance of progress and the fight for justice. He understood what it meant to challenge the White-male-dominated political machine of his day. He understood where real power comes from. It comes from the beloved community.

This led him to becoming the first president of the African American Teachers Association, the first Black teachers' union in New York State.

He was a friend, a colleague, a mentor, but most importantly, he set the standard for what it means to serve your community.

To those who are underprivileged, overlooked, left out, or marginalized, it is with great honor that I stand as a direct beneficiary of a great man, Councilmember Albert Vann, a true trailblazer in New York State politics.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague, Representative Jonathan Jackson, for yielding to me in commemoration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in commemoration and celebration of the designation of Caribbean-American Heritage Month during this month of June. I add my voice to those who have lauded Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her leadership in ensuring this designation 17 years ago.

It is with an immense sense of pride in this special moment in the lives of those of us in communities across the Nation of Caribbean descent. For nearly two decades, this month has served as a cherished opportunity to honor the boundless contributions of Caribbean Americans to our Nation.

From grass-roots activists, the first Black woman to run for President--the Honorable Shirley Chisholm--the first female Vice President--the Honorable Kamala Harris--to thought leaders, entertainers, entrepreneurs, diplomats, business moguls, Michelin-star chefs, and the brave, highly decorated members of our military, Caribbean Americans compose an integral part of our Nation's legacy, fabric, and future.

It is indeed the honor of my life and the dream of my ancestors to be a woman of Jamaican descent representing my home and my community--the place where I was born and raised--and to carry the torch of my people in the United States Congress.

As we acknowledge the excellence and contributions of Caribbean Americans, let this month remain a beacon for uplifting diversity, the preservation of legacy, the strength of unity, and the undeniable truth that we, the descendants of Caribbean peoples, are a force to be reckoned with, and that our culture and contributions deserve every acknowledgment and all the appreciation of a grateful Nation.

From Jamaica to Barbados and every nation in between: Bless Up, One Love, Walk Good.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the cowardice of my Republican colleagues, who should be standing across the aisle right now but have fled D.C. and their sworn duty to their constituents to avoid forcing our Nation onto default on our debt.

A catastrophic default should not, under any circumstances, delight MAGA Republicans, but these horribly bad actors are in contempt. They can hardly contain their excitement as the Nation stands on the brink of ruin.

Make no mistake, the MAGA movement has abandoned all pretext. They are not here to govern.

Eight million American jobs will be slashed in the blink of an eye.

Retirement savings will be devastated overnight, and there will be an all-but-certain recession.

This catastrophe is not just looming, but primed to collapse on our communities, and Speaker McCarthy refuses to keep the House in session.

Are he and his party really so eager to preside over our Nation's default on her debt? The answer is a resounding, yes, they are. Remember, their cruelty is the point.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Thompson for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the GOP's extreme and punitive immigration legislation, H.R. 2, also known as the child deportation act.

This cruel legislation would force draconian restrictions and punishments on migrants and asylum seekers and set America's immigration priorities back years.

At the cost of $6.1 billion, this bill would eliminate the right to asylum in America, a process millions upon millions have enjoyed over the generations. Vulnerable, desperate people and families have long depended on these laws for their safety and future.

Moreover, it would affect the legal status of over 4 million people who would otherwise be granted parole or asylum.

Instead of fostering immigration that strengthens our economy and empowers its growth, Republicans would rather throw our economy into a tailspin.

So let's be clear: Any bill that would allow vulnerable migrant children to be inhumanely detained by Border Patrol for up to a month, to be ripped from their families and locked up from the world, is unacceptable. It is fundamentally un-American. ``Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. . . . `' I need not remind you, Mr. Speaker, what those words adorn nor what they represent.

To treat vulnerable people fleeing violence, famine, and persecution, who are looking for a better life in our Nation with such contempt, such vitriol, such callousness, is not leadership; it is cowardice.

Though I am the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and know the struggles and challenges immigrant communities confront every day, my unique perspective on this issue should be irrelevant.

Every American, no matter how long their families have called this country their own, should be outraged at a GOP that would codify migrant child abuse.

Make no mistake: Regardless of H.R. 2's fate, America's immigration system is massively broken.

The glaring inequities, blatant racism, vicious xenophobia, and civil rights violations immigrants face, particularly in immigrant communities of color, will persist beyond any one bill.

As the Federal Government ends its use of title 42 and Democrats work to increase investments in border safety and personnel, open more lawful pathways and begin to address root causes of migration--

It is beyond time for Congress to pass immigration policy that reflects humane, equitable, and a 21st century immigration system.

We are a Nation of immigrants, founded by immigrants, so we must do better for immigrants. I will always stand against the limitless cruelty that has become synonymous with the MAGA movement and the cruelty they espouse.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day after a week of chaos and confusion following the Supreme Court's decision to allow mifepristone's status to remain as it has been: approved and accessible.

Let me be clear. The fight is not over. The Supreme Court needs to do its job and reject this ridiculous effort to thrust unjustified grudges into the FDA approval process and further limit access to abortion.

Women deserve safe and fair access to medication when they need it. Women deserve to have medication without interference from judges and politicians. Women must be treated as equals and have agency over our bodies and our lives.

Mr. Speaker, mifepristone's approval is still in jeopardy. The Supreme Court Justices should keep their bans off our bodies. Access to this medication must be protected. Our rights must be protected.

This fight is not over, and we will never concede.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick) for yielding, and I thank Mr. Jackson for co-anchoring this evening's Special Order hour.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day praying for the speedy recovery of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl of Kansas City, Missouri, who was released from the hospital today after being shot in the head for ringing the wrong doorbell.

We live in a society today where more and more communities are living in a recurring nightmare, reeling from gun violence.

Gun violence is the number one killer of children in the United States of America. While it has always been Black communities that have borne the brunt and have been the most victimized and terrorized by gun violence, and have too often assumed the blame of a poorly regulated gun industry, I truly expected that there would have been some bipartisan action taken to protect the next generation after the tragedy at Sandy Hook all those years ago.

Instead, the far right stays licking the boot of the NRA, taking their blood money and looking the other way. It has become crystal clear that the rightwing Republicans couldn't care less.

It is unconscionable that they care so little for the lives of children. I mean, look at what has happened just this past week in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama.

Mass murder and mass casualties have become commonplace, but we can't make them normalized.

It is not lost upon me that two Black lawmakers, Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, were expelled from the Tennessee House after joining peaceful protests against gun violence. Another generation that has had to grow up doing gun violence drills in their schools has now taken leadership and is leading the charge.

Let's be clear. The CBC won't stand by and allow another Jim Crow era to take root while further GOP legislators abuse their power, as we saw in Tennessee. The CBC will continue to push back against any and all efforts by Republicans to subvert the will of the American people, whether it is the effort to overturn our election on January 6 or efforts to silence or expel members from statehouses who advocate for a better nation, a better America, safe from the horrors of gun violence.

Again, I thank the gentlewoman from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois, Jonathan Jackson, for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day to acknowledge and thank Congresswoman Cori Bush and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley for their unyielding, unflinching, and unapologetic leadership and for leading the charge on the ratification of the equal rights amendment.

I rise today to reaffirm that ever-present need to have this ratification take place, as well as to recognize the tireless efforts and work of Black women on behalf of that mission.

It was more than half a century ago that the ERA first passed Congress due in large part to the efforts in drafting, advancing, and organizing by trailblazing Black women.

With that said, I am reminded of the words written by one of my congressional predecessors, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, decades ago in the very spot where I stand right now. She said: ``Of course, laws will not eliminate prejudice from the hearts of human beings, but that is no reason to allow prejudice to continue to be enshrined in our laws, to perpetuate injustice through inaction.''

Mr. Speaker, we are tired of the inaction. We are tired of the injustice. We are tired of being tired. So, it is my privilege to join the first-ever Congressional Equal Rights Amendment Caucus in history and support legislative efforts to affirm the ERA as the 28th amendment to the Constitution.

For decades, Black women have continued to pave the path toward ratification, and I am proud to see we are carrying on that legacy today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank every woman who has played a significant and substantial role and continues to play their position in this battle and in this fight for equal rights. As the Honorable Marcus Garvey admonished each and every woman out there: Forward ever, backwards never.

Madam Speaker, I rise today at a moment when, tragically, women's rights in the United States have been greatly diminished since last year's Women's History Month was commemorated.

While we will continue our month-long celebration in observance of women's history, it is just as important for us to focus on the future that women will face as it is for us to reflect on the achievements of the past.

Access to abortion is no longer a constitutional right. Full stop.

Access to lifesaving abortion medication, even in States where abortion is legally protected is under threat.

Teenage girls and young women are facing unprecedented rates of trauma, violence, suicide, and maternal mortality.

We still have not achieved equal work for equal pay. Yet, we continue our celebration this month all the same. That is in part what makes this month so special.

From Harriet Tubman liberating the enslaved to Vice President Harris inspiring women and girls across the Nation that they too can dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see themselves in a way that others may not, we are making progress and our work is not yet finished.

In closing, Happy Women's History Month.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on this day, the first day of Black History Month, unfortunately during a moment of unprecedented assaults on truth by those desperate to rewrite America's history.

In this troubling time of banned books and canceled curriculums, it is with great urgency that I stand before you, Mr. Speaker, to celebrate the profound history of our Nation that far too many far- right zealots are fighting to conceal.

This is a special month, defined in equal parts triumph and tragedy, and centered in pride and appreciation because our African-American forebears rose above oppression and helped create the greatest nation the modern world has ever seen.

Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, only the ashamed and the afraid hide from history. Black Americans never have and never will, for ours is a story of victory over adversity, determination in the face of uncertainty, and the courage of our convictions.

Our story is America's story. Let us never forget, let us never concede, and let us never be silent when we say that Black history is American history.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Lenox Road Baptist Church and their 150 years of selfless service as a spiritual home to the people of Central Brooklyn and all those who were blessed to cross their threshold in fellowship with one another.

It was a century-and-a-half ago, in the heart of Flatbush, that the Lenox Road Baptist Church was established as a beacon of love, light, and Christian discipleship.

Over these many years, this sacred community of faith never failed to open its doors to any and all who were eager to hear and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

For 150 years, those doors remained open to those in need of spiritual guidance, communion of saints, and warm embrace.

On this sacred anniversary, under the leadership of Pastor Kirkpatrick Cohall and his team, may the Lenox

Road Baptist Church continue to grow in its sacred mission of magnifying God's word, blessing His holy name, uplifting the people in service to all humanity, and honoring their incomparable legacy.

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding. I rise today in support of H.R. 5376, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

This monumental generational investment in our Nation's future will lower prescription drug prices and energy costs, extend healthcare coverage for millions of Americans, and deliver a vital down payment of resources in our stand against the climate crisis, all while creating millions of well-paying jobs across America.

Moreover, it makes good on our promise to always fight for this country's most vulnerable communities, now and forever.

The journey to today has been challenging, to say the least, but I am at long last elated to know that the change Americans need and demand is finally here.

Thanks to the hard work and ceaseless resolve of President Joe Biden, my Democratic colleagues on the Senate side, and every individual who took seriously their duty to fight tooth and nail to better the lives of every American in our care, our pursuit of progress has never been stronger.

For communities of color, our seniors, pregnant and postpartum people, individuals and families living on low wages, and everyone else who has long borne the brunt of too many hardships to list, this legislation represents the initial steps they have long and desperately awaited.

The Inflation Reduction Act will prevent thousands of premature deaths by improving air quality in densely populated communities with high environmental justice needs.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and congratulate Mr. Harry William Baumgarten and Dr. Deepika Kennedy Murala on their wedding on June 10, 2022. This special day is worthy of recognition and commendation.

A former voting rights litigator, Mr. Baumgarten spent three years working in my office, where he served as an advisor on foreign policy, judiciary, as well as a plethora of other matters. Serving in roles as Legislative Counsel and Legislative Director, Mr. Baumgarten showed great skill in leading our team to best serve the interests of the people in New York's Ninth Congressional District. His dedication to serving this country is worthy of praise, and our team is exceptionally grateful for his work and contributions.

Dr. Deepika Murala is a pediatric critical care doctor from Southern India. She has been committed to providing health care to underserved communities, both in India and the United States. She has shown great dedication to this cause, and continues to work tirelessly supporting this effort. Her current contributions help fill a critical doctor shortage in Lewes, Delaware.

Dr. Murala and Mr. Baumgarten met on June 14, 2020, while living in Philadelphia. They share a mutual love for traveling and cooking, and serve as an example of the character, capability and professionalism that serves our Nation well. Mr. Baumgarten proposed in front of Independence Hall in December of 2021. Independence Hall serves as the founding site of this country and additionally, the founding site of their marriage.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Deepika and Harry. I join with the couple's family and friends in extending my best wishes to them and celebrating this wonderful milestone. I wish them happiness and blessings in the years to come.