Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. 20240703

The speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 225, the nays are 181. The bill is passed. Without objection, mott etion to reconsider is the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is the vote on adoption of House Resolution 1210 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk will report the title of the resolution. The clerk House Resolution 1210. Resolution condemning the biden border crisis and the tremendous burdens Law Enforcement officers face as a result. The speaker pro tempore the question is on adoption of the resolution. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 223, the nays are 185 with one voting present. The resolution is adopted. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is the vote on passage of h. R. 7518 on which the yeas and nays 7581 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk Union Calendar number 410. H. R. 7581. A bill to require the attorney general to develop reports relating to Violent Attacks against Law Enforcement officers and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is on the passage of the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20 the unfinish bids is the vote on the passage of h. R. 5373 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The clerk Union Calendar number 396, h. R. 7343, a bill to amend immigration and nationality act to provide for the detention of certain aliens who commit assault against Law Enforcement officers. The speaker pro tempore the question is on passage of the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a fiveminute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 374, the nays are 74. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection the motion to he consider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the the vote on the motion from the of the jell, mr. Bilirakis. The clerk will report the title. The clerk Union Calendar number 413, h. R. 4310, a bill to amend the sale of products with a high donsen strags of Sodium Nitrate to individuals and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 376, the nays are 33. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause of rule 0, the Unfinished Business is the vet on the motion of the gentleman from indiana, mr. Bucshon, to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 4581 as amended, on which the yeas and nays are ordered. Clerk will report the title. Clip Union Calendar number 406, h. R. 4581, a bill to amend title 5 of the Social Security act to support stillborn prevention and research and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore the yeas are 408. The nays are 3. The rules are suspended and bill is passed. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is vote on the motion from mr. Bushon on which yeas and nays are ordered clerk will report the title. The clerk Union Calendar 404 h. R. 6960 to reauthorize the medical services for children program. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore the yeas are 399 and the nays are 13. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the bill is passed and without objection. The motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8, rule 20, the Unfinished Business is vote on the motion from mr. Bill rackies to suspend the rules on which yeas and nays are ordered clerk will report the title. The clerk h. R. 1797, a bill to require the Consumer Products Safety Commission to proposal you will debate a safety standard with respect to rechargeable lithium batteries used in devices and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 378 and the nays are 34. The bill is passed and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is vote on the motion from the the gentleman from florida to suspend the rules and pass h. R. 55772. The clerk Union Calendar 417, h. R. 5572, a bill to direct the secretary of commerce to promote the km pefness of the United States related to the deployment application and competitiveness of blockchains technology and other technology and for other purposes. Ism the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote, the yeas are 334 and the nays are 79. The bill is passed. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule 20, the Unfinished Business is vote on the motion of the the gentleman from florida, mr. Bilirakis to pass h. R. 6571. The clerk Union Calendar number 392, a bill to establish a critical supply change and Response Program in the department ofcommerce and to secure American Leadership in deploying emerging technologies and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. Members will record their votes by electronic device. This is a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 39, 0 the nays are 19. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is pass and without objection the motion to reconsider is laid on the table. The unfinished by is the vote on the motion of the gentleman from florida, mr. Bilirakis, on h. R. 3950678. The clerk Union Calendar number 12, h. R. 3950, a bill to require sellers of event tickets to disclose comprehensive information to consumers related to ticket prices and related fees and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore members will record their votes by electronic device. This will be a twominute vote. [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc. , in cooperation with the United States house of representatives. Any use of the closedcaptioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial purposes is expressly prohibited by the u. S. House of representatives. ] the speaker pro tempore on this vote the yeas are 388, the nays are 24. 2 3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection the motion is reconsidered and laid on the table. The speaker pro tempore the house will be in order. Please take your conversations off the house floor. The house will be in order. Please take your conversations off the house floor. The chair will now entertain requests for oneminute speeches. For what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . Mr. Speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Thompson thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this week tens of thousands of Law Enforcement officers from across the country will arrive in washington for National Police week. Created in 1962, through a joint resolution by congress, National Police week pays special recognition to those Law Enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. National police week is sponsored by the national Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund and supported by a variety of organizations to honor the law enforce. Community. This week honors the men and women in blue who gave everything to protect their country and communities. At a time when our nation east is facing a rise in crime and attacks on Police Officers, we need to support our Law Enforcement more than ever. This is why im proud to cosponsor legislation that memorializes Law Enforcement officers killed in the line of duty and i also proudly cosponsored h. R. 354, the reform act to expand caring privileges for offduty and retired Law Enforcement officers. Our officer put on their uniform each day knowing they can be in harms way at any moment. On behalf of a grateful nation, i say thank you to all our officers who serve. Thank you, mr. Speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to soys any unwavering support for israel. She continues to be under threats to her existence. Hamas attack, hezbollah rockets, iran missiles. I thank President Biden and a Bipartisan Congress for the support for israels security because israels security is our security. Ms. Frankel now we must stand, we must stand by our commitment to our ally and send the vital assistance we have promised without delay. The u. S. Israel relationship is ironclad. And it is critical to defeating hamas, bringing the hostages home, and delivering peace to a very hostile region. With that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia seek recognition . Mr. Carter i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Carter mr. Speaker, i rise today to celebrate the achievements of new hample sted highs gionna brown, recently named the winner of the annual Hollis Stacey award, presented to the areas most versatile female athlete in is a zanna, georgia. She embodies this award. In addition to being an all greater savannah selection in flag football and basketball, she also was as middle blocker in vol bee ball and goal kicker in soccer. Shes also great on the basketball court. She averaged 20. 6 points per game and 11 rebounds per game. Her record speaks for itself. Shes a multisport star in the First District and the First District could not be prouder of her. Congratulations, gionna, i know well continue to see your success on the field for years to come. Thank you, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from michigan seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Stevens i rise today on behalf of michigans 11th district to celebrate the overwhelming bipartisan passage of the f. A. A. Reauthorization, which has included my bill, the Severe Turbulence Research and development act. Turbulence is a leading cause of injuries to flight crews and the flying public and yet we lack a fundamental understanding of why turbulence incidences are increasing in frequency and severity. We also lack the ability to accurately predict where turbulence incidences will occur to adjust flight routes. This is unacceptable and the f. A. A. Does not have the research, resources and data sets needed to keep people safe. Thats why my bill will enhance the monitoring and understanding of severe turbulence and inform the development of measures to mitigate safety impacts on crew and the flying public that may result from severe turbulence. Todays a great day for flight crew, pilot, for airports across america and again i celebrate the passage of this legislation and look forward to seeing it signed into law. Thank you and i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition . I ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection, the gentleman is recognized. On this National Police week i rise to honor the brave men and women of Law Enforcement. Mr. Meuser this week couldnt have come at a more important time. Many in the Police Department, rookies and veterans are disheartened by the Treatment Police officerses have receive ned recent years. Their dedication is to protect and serve their communities, yet too often they are disrespected, demoralized, defunded, not by many, but enough. Too often by elected community leaders. This must stop. Many criminal prosecutors also need to do their jobs. There are too many violent criminals who break firearm possession laws and are released. We must enforce the firearm laws that exist. This will reduce socalled gun violence. Too many prosecutors are failing to prosecute violent criminals as dangerous citizens this endangers citizen, diminishes Public Safety and puts Police Officers at high risk. As the son of a former police officer, i always back the blue. Theres always room for improvement we we all should always respect the men and women who risk their lives to protect and serve and too often give their lives for their job, community, and for the people they work for. With that, mr. Speaker, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition . Without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized. Ms. Kaptur thank you. Mr. Speaker, i rise today to advocate for the designation of may 15 as National Senior fraud awareness day. This bipartisan resolution we are introducing aims to draw attention to the alarming increase in fraudulent schemes targeting seniors across the United States. In 2023 alone, individuals over 60 reported losses totaling nearly 2 billion from various forms of fraud spanning all 50 states. Senior fraud is not merely a regional concern. Its a Pervasive National challenge that demands our collective attention. We must collaborate to implement effective policies and measures aimed at preventing these scams to protect our seniors from financial exploitation. One of the major obstacles to combat senior fraud is the significant underreporting of incidents. Many victims hesitate to come forward due to feelings of shame, stigma, and a lack of Awareness Regarding where to report such crimes. By designate make 15 as National Senior fraud awareness day, we can raise public awareness, empower seniors with knowledge and provide them with the resources they need to report fraud effectively. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join us in our bipartisan effort to end fraud against seniors. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized mr. Lamalfa National Police week is our opportunity to slow down a little bit and recognize those officers that put it on the line for us each day, each week, each month, each year. They face a lot of obstacles just to keep us safe and keep criminals off the street and hopefully prosecuted. When i first entered into the political realm, i met a deputy one time who was so frustrated with the state of the criminal justice system, he told me he was aggravated those he arrested would beat him home from being released before he would get the paperwork done. As we see the situation with prosecutors not prosecuting, revolving door, we need to dig deep and not only thank our officers, but pass legislation that supports them and their efforts to do what we ask them and keep the streets safe and not have defund the police in blue cities. They are feeling the regret of defunding them. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from california seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection the gentlewoman is recognized. To hear republicans tell it, the only problem with our immigration system is the border. Thats a high. Our process for Legal Immigration is badly broken. Ms. Porter in 2023, 35 Million People applied for green cards some for economic opportunities, some to bring Families Together and some to flee violence. What percentage got them . Go ahead, take a guess. 20 . 5 . 1 . Nope. 0. 2 . That is wholly unacceptable. This flawed system worsens unlawful immigration. The two are connected. Congress can fix immigration and not just point the finger. Instead of blaming everyone else for our broken immigration system republicans should own up to the fact that congress under their leadership is whats broken. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentlewoman from louisiana seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection the gentlewoman is recognized. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in full support of House Resolution 1226 memorializing Law Enforcement officers killed in the line of duty that im coleading with michael guest, chris pappas and abigail spanberger. These are the tallen Law Enforcement officers. Officer carl douglas kim bell. Deputy sheriff mayor. Officer trefer abnee, Corporal Scott wayne cabaneras, lieutenant berry paul, Corporal Robert mckinney. Deputy first class kyle. Sergeant jacobs. Comp rail sean kelly, lieutenant michael stevens. I ask everyone to join me in praying for these officers and put tour their lives on the line each day. May we continue to teach future generations the Critical Mission that Law Enforcement personnel undertake to protect our community. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized i rise today to honor the life and legacy of a giant done lee. Don was driven to support his neighbors and make government work for everyone. He connected underserved businesses with resources and government contracts traditionally kept out of reach. After 9 11 devastated the manhattan chinaa Town Community he served was a liaison and protested for transit access at the grand street subway and expand licenses for Street Vendors and fought against antiasian hate in the wake of covid. Don was the board chair of home Crest Community service and anchor for disadvantaged communities. Home crest created three new centers under his leadership. Last weekend, don passed away and we mourn his loss. On a personal note, he was an early supporter of mine and supported me and guided me and helped me build a the community. My house heart aches. And our entire city are inexpired by the life don leg and the legacy he leaves. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does gentleman seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman is recognized mr. Speaker, at university after university, we have been seeing acts of moral and failures of leadership as University President s cave to the demands of antisemitic like cutting ties or divesting from israel. And today brought the most egregious where son ohma state not from my district not only agreed to demands of the encampment and convert it into a permanent governing authority to ensure that it is enforced in an antisemitic manner. Im not kidding you. It will be composed of members from the encampment and palestinian alumni and other interested students as determined by students for justice in palestine. Any University Leader who is entering these kinds of agreements are elevating groups who are engaging in lawless action and pursue their and silencing any debates on on the contrary. Any president who agrees to this is not fit to lead. I yield back. The speaker pro tempore for what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition . I request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. The speaker pro tempore without objection this week is National Police week and im grateful to honor the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to ensure our safety. Law enforcement officers face unique challenges. They have accepted the call to serve and protect others riskerring cost to themselves. Ms. Moore i joined in a moment of silence for sergeant bill hoosier who was child at a traffic stop and he was helping a woman who was being driven against her will. And his final moments were spent serving his community and helping a woman in harm. This is a senseless tragedy. I join his family, friends and community in paying tribute out. This year along, 56 Law Enforcement officers throughout our nation have died. They are our heroes. As crime surges we must show support for those standing ready. We support our Law Enforcement. They risk their lives so we can live in safety and we will always be thankful. The speaker pro tempore under the speakers announced policy of january 9, 2023, the gentleman from connecticut, mr. Larson, is recognized for 60 minutes as designee of the minority leader. Mr. Larson i rise with my colleagues to have discussion about the nations number one Antipoverty Program for the elderly and the nations Antipoverty Program for children. More veterans rely on this than they do on the v. A. And we want to make sure we are addressing this to our colleagues and since you are in the chair from minnesota, mr. Speaker, i want you to know you have more than 189,000 Social Security recipients in your district, more than 147,000 retirees, more than 20,000 disabled, 8,000 widows, 9,000 children. And heres the key, mr. Speaker, 335 million a month comes into your district for those Social Security recipients. And where do they spend it . Right back in their district. And it has been more than 53 years since congress has enhanced Social Security. Richard nixon was president of the United States. The last time Social Security was enhanced. Democrats are bound and determined to make sure that we get something simple like a vote here in congress to help out all of those people in your district, mr. Speaker as well as high it light why this is so important. 70 million americans rely on Social Security. 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security. 40,000 americans rely on Social Security in and of itself as their primary retirement. It is the nations number one Antipoverty Program for the elderly and for children. And thats why our colleagues have taken to the floor today so the American People understand that whats between them and enhancement to this program is a vote, a vote on Social Security 2100 that will extend the solvency of Social Security but more importantly, expand benefits including making sure that more than the 23 Million People that pay taxes on Social Security no longer have to do that. What could be a better bipartisan plan than helping out every single individual in everyones district and providing 23 million, not the wealth theft americans but the americans who work week long to provide for their families and pay into a system and havent received an enhancement in 53 years. Thats why joe neguse has strongly endorsed this and i yield time to him to speak. Mr. Neguse first and foremost, let me thank the gentleman from connecticut, our former caucus chair, for his clarion call that he has issued year after year, month after month, day after day to protect, to strengthen Social Security. Couldnt be more important. And we couldnt be more grateful for his leadership and the leadership of so many of my colleagues who have joined us tonight on the house floor to talk to the American People about the ways in which House Democrats are protecting critical programs like Social Security and medicare and the myriad ways in which, unfortunately our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are doing the exact opposite. I will give you but one example, mr. Speaker, with respect to the latter. I know you are familiar, i dont know if the American People are familiar, with the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus within the republican conference. 80 of the republican conference consider themselves members of this committee. 100 of House Republican leadership count themselves among the members of this committee. The former chairman of the Republican Study Committee is now the speaker of the u. S. House of representatives. Why do i bring up that meet committee . Well, it might interest you two months ago the Republican Study Committee issued a budget for 2025. Again, this is a committee that has 80 of the republican conference in its membership. This backwards budget plan is incredibly revealing. What does it do . It upends critical programs that American Families depend on. Makes draconian cuts to medicare and Social Security. A plan that increases the retirement age to 69, forcing americans to work longer for less. A plan that cuts disability benefits, erodes care for children, making it more expensive to care for our families. Their plan raises medicare costs for seniors, takes away the programs ability to negotiate Prescription Drug costs. Repeals the 35 insulin and 2,000 outofpocket caps that House Democrats, the members gathered here on the floor this evening, fought so vigorously to enact in the 117th congress. And just to be clear, mr. Speaker, although we are here tonight to talk about Social Security and medicare, our efforts to protect and strengthen and expand both those programs and republican efforts to dismantle them, it is worth noting that this is police week. And notwithstanding the many statements made by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle concerning their purported support for Law Enforcement, their budget tells a very different story. Why . How . Well, i encourage everyone american, go to page 148 of the Republican Study Committees budget. What you will find is clear, unambiguous, plain language that states that they would like to reduce funding for Community Oriented policing services, the cops program. A program that the distinguished gentleman from pennsylvania has fought to expand for years. A program that is funding the hiring of Law Enforcement officers in my district in colorado. And countless other jurisdictions across our great country. A program that is critical to Law Enforcements abilities to provide for Public Safety in our country. And a program that they intend to cut. So make no mistake, mr. Speaker. Insofar as one word of glean essential operation from a review, cursory review of their budget, it is simple House Republicans are unconsidered in tackling issues that matter to the American People. We will not let them cut Social Security. We wont let them cut medicare. We wont let them cut Law Enforcement funding. That much is clear. With that, mr. Speaker, and mr. Chairman, i yield back to the gentleman from connecticut. Mr. Larson i thank the gentleman from colorado and esteemed leader for his contribution and would point out as well that the repeal of w. E. P. And g. P. O. Which directly impacts Police Officers and firefighters is contained within our proposal. It needs a vote. Social security has no impact on the debt or deficit. And as President Biden has proposed is fully paid for by, most americans dont even realize this, by lifting the cap on people making over 400,000. And in doing so allows us to enhance the program for the first time in 20plus years, and also make sure that we extend the solvency of the program. Someone who knows that extraordinarily well is the gentleman from new jersey who also serves on the Social Security subcommittee. I recognize the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Pascrell. Mr. Pascrell i want to thank mr. Larson for putting his work and soul on the line for the last several years. Mr. Speaker, i rise today on behalf of the more than 124,000 constituents in the ninth district of north jersey who rely on Social Security each and every month. Social securitys one of americas greatest success stories. After nearly 90 years, it still stands as a monument to decency, dignity, and the birthright of hardworking americans. Yet throughout its storied history its been under attack. Going back to 1935, it has been the subject of attacks and lies from day one. The Study Committee just referred to which represents threequarters of the House Republicans proposed slashing Social Security benefits by 718 billion. If i was sitting home right now, i would be saying, well, does that mean me . Does that mean my benefits that i paid into . They are going to vote now and take it away . Its the only thing i live on. Republican leadership wants to create a socalled Fiscal Commission in our government funding bill. That is a wolf in sheeps clothing. Without aggressive action, Social Security lurches toward insolvency. Congress has a sacred responsibility to fight for its future. That is why im standing with representative larson on his Social Security 2100 act to assure the longterm strength and the solvency of Social Security. I will keep standing as long as we have to fight. We are not going home. The Social Security 2100 act provides paidfor benefit enhancements while not raising taxes on middle class families. Its a nobrainer. Our bill ends the painful fivemonth disability waiting period. Imagine that. It would ensure americans suffering with permanent disorders like huntingtons disease get the help they need without red tape or delay. The bill eliminates the elimination provision so that firefighters and police and teachers and others get the full benefits that they have earned. With the Social Security 2100 act we are fighting for our seniors who have worked their entire lives and rely on Social Security to make ends meet. I remember the first election Congressional Election i ran in, mr. Speaker, in the year 1996, which wasnt yesterday, i remember i walked into the hall of seniors in the spring of that year, before the election actually was on, and i knew everything about, i thought, Social Security. But i never expected to get the first question about Social Security. I was asked, what are you going to do about Social Security . One of our seniors asked that question. In 1996. Here we are, 28 years later. What do you know . I will not vote for a convenient increase in the age requirement. They want you to work and drop dead. So that you collect under the ground, i guess. You wont be above ground. I will not vote for cuts to Social Security in order to pay for it. And we are fighting for working families. We must get this done for the American People. Theres no excuses. If you are watching, call in. Let us know what you think. This is your money. Our money. Thank you, i yield back. Mr. Larson i thank the gentleman from new jersey. Wanted to point out to speaker johnson that he has 158,000 Social Security recipients in his district, and in louisiana they receive 233 million in monthly benefits. Think about that. What that does for Economic Development for those people, where do they spend that money . Linda sanchez knows this. Linda sanchez who also serves on the ways and Means Committee and on the subcommittee understands how vitally important this is, and also that for more than five million of our americans, they receive below Poverty Level checks from Social Security having paid in to the system all their lives. And the majority of them happen to be women. And the majority of them, women of color. The gentlelady from california is recognized. Ms. Sanchez i want to thank my good friend and colleague, john larson, who has been at the forefront of advocating for changes to the Social Security system that will ensure its longevity for the next generation and generations to come and increase the benefits for those that currently receive Social Security. In contrast, the republicans are proposing cuts to Social Security, and those cuts will harm millions of americans, but make no mistake, cutting Social Security is a direct attack on the latino population in this country. Social security is benefits are a significant portion of Retirement Income for latinos. 42 of married latino couples and 59 of unmarried latino individuals rely on Social Security for 90 or more of their Retirement Income. Yet my republican colleagues are hellbent on cutting those Social Security benefits. Their proposed budget would cut Social Security benefits for 253 Million People, and latino communities, sadly, will pay the price. Without Social Security, 47 of latino retirees would be living in poverty. And, mr. Larson frequently says Social Security is the most successful Antipoverty Program that this country has ever created. Democrats in contrast to my republicans who want to cut Social Security or increase the age at which you can begin to draw on it, they are committed to protecting people, all people, from living in poverty. Democrats want to invest in programs like Social Security so that more americans, including latinos, can afford to retire. And one of the ingenious parts of Social Security 2100 will increase the cap for those who pay into the Social Security system. I frequently give this example. I think its important. Many americans dont know that once you earn above a certain income you stop paying into the Social Security system. So that means that a professional athlete, like, say a professional baseball player who makes millions of dollars a year in income, in their first atbat of the season, they hit that cap, and they pay no more money into Social Security. The rest of the year. I think that we can fix Social Security, increase its longevity, protect communities like the latino communities and women who depend predominantly on Social Security for their Retirement Income, and all we are asking for is a vote on this legislation. I have no doubt that if we put that bill on the floor it would pass by a large margin. Give us a vote. I yield back. Mr. Larson i want to thank the gentlelady from california. Again, highlight what we are asking for. A vote. Imagine, the United States Congress Actually voting. Now, heres the deal. If you got a better idea, please, bring it to the floor. Lets vote on it. But dont we all agree that this is something that all americans need . Republicans in their heart, i know representative Jodey Arrington understands this, on their Budget Committee, know that the American People desperately need this. More than 50 years since we have enhanced a program for the people of this country . Its outrageous. You can emprays tore billionaires, as though they needed them, and yet a tax cut for a person working who finds themselves working after theyre retired is double taxed on their Social Security. There should be outrage on this floor and demanding a vote. And god only knows that if you have a better idea or a better program, please, put it forward. Lets do the democratic thing and vote on it. The gentleman from rhode island campaigned on this throughout his effort to be successfully elected to the United States congress. I recognize the gentleman from rhode island. I thank my colleague, the gentleman from connecticut, for yielding. I rise today to address an issue that is personal to me and Many Americans, the sacred trust of medicare and Social Security. Mr. Speaker, i was raised by a mom who works double shifts as a nurse in rhode island in nursing homes. I grew up understanding how critical medicare and Social Security are for seniors in the ocean state. Now as the congressman from Rhode Islands first congressional district, i am committed to expanding the promise of these critical programs. Democrats know how to get this done. Through the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, congress authorized medicare to negotiate the cost of Prescription Drugs and capping insulin at 35 and limiting expenses to 2,000 a year. In this congress we committed to congressman larsons Social Security act that would ensure that the wealthiest americans play by the same rules as everyone else. And yet, as i stand here today, i cant help but contrast these essential measures with the callous budget proposals on the other side of the aisle. Make no mistake, the Republican Study Committees proposal is a backward budget. If enacted, it would cut Social Security benefits for 250 million americans nationwide. In my home state of rhode island, the republican budget slashes benefits for 74 of the population forcing 34 residents to work longer for less. In a similar way, republicans propose undoing the Inflation Reduction Act and jacking up the prices of Prescription Drugs. No one should have to doubt if Social Security and medicare will be there for them in their retirement. Thats why i urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to come together. Lets save Social Security together bypassing congressman larsons bill and lets pass this bill. And most importantly, lets abandon this misguided idea that punishing seniors and raising costs is somehow the solution to the problems we face. Mr. Speaker, we dont have to choose between choosing insolvency and safeguarding the benefits of millions of americans. We can and should do both. By having a vote on the Social Security 2100 act, we can and we will. Mr. Larson i thank the gentleman from rhode island. And i wanted to say this as well, that this is a bill that was constructed by more than 350 different groups across this great country and by members of this body who put together their ideas. The ways and Means Committee nearly took the great ideas of our colleagues and put them together, ideas that have been endorsed by the National Committee to preserve scoacial security and medicare, reliance of retired americans, california reliance, paralyzed veterans of america, strengthen Social Security coalition, the naccp and the list goes on. The gentlelady from florida understands this and florida leads the leads the number of seniors they have in their district. As we pointed out to this speaker, madam frankel, every district receives money. 364 million a month. But it has been that way for more than 50plus years. These programs need to be enhanced and extended, not cut. The provision by the Republican Study Committee, if theres nothing done by 2034, Social Security is cut by 20 and they are calling to raise the age now and cut Social Security by 21 today. How does that possible apply make any sense . The lady from florida understands this and i yield the floor to her. Ms. Frankel thank you for your leadership and mr. Neguse. I mr. Larson, i have joined you on this discussion for more than 10 years. I want to tell you about one of my constituents, lives in delray beach, florida, retired. When she was a very young girl, she lost her dad at a very early age and watched her mom struggle with their own family bills. And janet, to help the family, began working at the age of 17. And so im going to get my math right, she has been working 50 years. I guess that makes her i dont know, someone add that up for me. Heres the point. Let me tell you some of the things shes done over these years. She was a nurse working in a hospital, working countless hours taking care of patients. She moved to florida and she became a director of a Skilled Nursing facility. And then worked at aldz imers patients at the community care, probably one of the most difficult assignments and managed one of our Crisis Center hotlines and retired about eight years ago and now is almost 100,000 seniors in my district, like i like to say seasoned adults in my home district of palm beach county. And like the 66 million other americans who rely on Social Security. Mr. Larson, i like the point you made not only the Social Security meet the needs of so many of these seniors, but our seniors, they are a great economic generators. I know where i live, if not for their economic activity, we would be in pretty bad shape. Janet told me she fears that without Social Security, she would have to turn to her children like her mother turned to her when she was young. She has worked her whole life paying in Social Security to get benefits. She and millions of other americans, nurses, school teachers, janitors, construction workers, they worked under the promise that when they turned 65 they would be able to retire with the comfort and dignity and now House Republicans want to break that promise. Their budget slashes Social Security benefits, raises medicare costs all while promising another giant tax break for their wealthy friends and large corporations. And i hope we all agree, no one who works their entire life should retire into poverty. Social security is an earned benefit that americans have paid in each paycheck and President Biden and House Democrats and senators are committed to defending it from republican cuts and securing it with meaningful legislation that requires our wealthiest citizens to pay their fair share. I am proud to stand here with my colleagues standing up for Social Security, keeping it secure and honoring our most seasoned citizens. And with that, i yield back. Mr. Larson i thank the gentlelady from florida again. Mr. Larson why is it you cant get a vote on this in the Unions Congress . Good question. Call your representative and ask them why arent they voting to improve a program that hasnt been enhanced in more than 50 years. We hear from the other side all the time about what we need to do in terms of cuts. Imagine this is what theyd like to cut. Theyve got a better idea, they should bring it to the floor. The way about democracy, there is a debate about ideas and actually a vote thats cast. The gentlelady from new mexico understands this and understands how important the money coming into her district is monthly as well. And understands how vitally important Social Security is to our economy and not just to our retirees, but to our disabled and to their spouses and to children. The genius of Franklin Delano roosevelt is what keeps entrepreneurialism and capitalism alive. It allows people to take risk because they know there is a safety net there for its people. The gentlelady understands this and i yield to the gentlelady from new mexico. Thank you, mr. Speaker. In new mexico, we care for our elders. It is part of our culture. It is a part of who we are, because our elders are those who raised us, cared for us. They are our grandparents and our parents, our aunts and uncles and veterans, the people who carry our history, our cultures, our languages and traditions. And that is why it is so outrageous to me that the house g. O. P. Would consider, or propose to cut the critical programs that gut Social Security, medicare, medicaid. In new mexico, thousands of new mexicans depend on Social Security. Our seniors, our elders, People Living with disbuilt. Over 450,000 depend on medicare. That is over 20 of our states population. New mexicans depend on these programs to provide for their families and put a roof over their heads and put food on the table. The before Social Security, our elders were left with nothing. Before medicare and medicaid, our seniors and lowincome families could not access lifesaving health care. In new mexico, 12 of our seniors are considered low income and living below the poverty line and struggling to have a roof over their head and put food on their table. So let me be clear, these programs save lives. And they have secured our elders for generation. And new mexicans and all americans should be able to live without fear that politicians here in washington are going to use their lives for political gain. But here we are on the house floor and the house g. O. P. Is playing politics with the lives of our seniors, proposing to gut the fundamental programs that have supported them for generations. And we already know what happens when federal programs are cut. Hospitals close. Food insecurity rises. Critical programs disappear. And that is why we are fighting as house House Democrats to protect these program and ensure they are there for generations to come. That is why we are fighting to protect Social Security and health care services. Its why we took on big phrma two years ago and won. Its why we passed the inflation act which has the largest single expansion of medicaid since the passage of the Affordable Care act. Its why we fought to lower Prescription Drug costs and why we capped insulin drug prices for every american and i fought to end taxes on Social Security benefits in new mexico. I ask my colleagues is this how you care for you are elders . Are this how they taught you and raised you . Are these the values you were raced raised with . That not how we treat our elders in new mexico because we know they depend on these programs. We know the lifesaving care and support that are necessary. And we know that we cannot break the promises to those who cared for us and raised us. Democrats understand just like new mexicans that we must care for our seniors. That is why we are fighting back and working every day to make sure that we secure their wellbeing. I yield back. Mr. Larson i thank the gentlelady from new mexico for her eloquence. There is no one more eloquent or well versed on this subject than the deaness of the house of representatives. Someone who has lived and breathed this issue, has stood up when the other side has referred to Social Security as anonymity annual. It is not anonymity anaheim entitlement. Its an earned benefit that people have paid for. You know, mr. Speaker, the only thing they have to do is look at their pay stub. Because on it it says fica. That stands for federal insurance. Not an entitlement. Federal insurance contributions. Whose . The people of the United States of america who have paid into this program and that congress has not enhanced. This debate is not only about protecting Social Security, its about expanding benefits that havent been expanded in more than 50 years. I commend President Biden for having the courage and the terminate temerity on this floor in the state of the Union Message to speak directly to the American People. And even those colleagues on the other side who tried to decry the efforts of Social Security. And the president s plan to make sure that its solvent by lifting the cap. Imagine that, on people making over 400,000. Marcy kaptur understands this thoroughly when she talks to people in ohio that are infuriated who say, wait a minute, youre telling me that a person making 50,000, 75,000, 100,000 pays throughout the year but somebody making over 400,000 is done paying in january . Or as ms. Sanchez said, a baseball player after their first atbat. Nobody has fought harder for working people than the gentlelady from ohio. I yield to her. Ms. Kaptur i thank the Ranking Member. Mr. Larson, for his persevering leadership on this critical issue to millions and millions and millions of americans and assistant leader neguse for your leadership. Thank you for being here this evening. I appreciate your yielding me time to highlight the importance of Social Security, but also your tireless work to safeguard and assure coverage in Social Security for all americans who qualify for their earned benefits which you have talked about this evening. Every Single Member who got up here tonight. This is not a welfare program. This is an earned benefit. Those who work hard throughout their lives will benefit from the fruits of their labor during retirement. Social security promises a safe and secure retirement for tens of millions of americans during their golden years. But we are here tonight because without action by this house leading, that promise is at risk. Like my colleagues, i represent probably over 150,000 retirees, a majority women. In northwest ohio. Who want to see responsible solutions to protect Social Security going forward. And for ohio that includes eliminating the windfall penalty. I agree with congressman larson, the billionaire class must join the vast majority of americans in paying their fair share into this critical system. Yes, its a retirement system. But its also an insurance system. Its a disability system. And its a survivorship system for children. By making this happen the Social Security 2100 act championed by congressman larson will increase benefits for current and new beneficiaries. It will protect retirees against inflation and repeal the windfall elimination provision once and for all. The Social Security 2100 act is one of the most important bills before this congress. And we must push the leadership for a vote on this house floor as soon as possible. It impacts 68 million beneficiaries. Already there are 184 house cosponsors of this bill. And speaker johnson could move this bill for the floor for a vote tomorrow. Additionally, the Social Security fairness act has 319 bipartisan cosponsors, more than 2 3 of the chamber, and they cant get a vote. Its stopped up in the leadership. America made a promise to workers, and democrats are committed to making good on that promise. Im the granddaughter of immigrants of immigrants who worked at the lowest wage and worst jobs, first fired, last hired, they simply could not have existed if it were not for Social Security in their retirement years. The same is true for our parents. You see Social Security is not just a program. It is a trust. A sacred trust. That trust is intergenerational. I may be the only member here this evening who was present in the 98th congress in april of 1983 to vote for the refinancing of Social Security title 2 for the next generation. Among the most critical votes i ever cast. I remember it to this day as we stood on this floor and we cheered. That vote was extremely important because it refinanced Social Security for the first time in a generation. It left some work undone which we must repair, but it result interested a brokered compromise between republican president Ronald Reagan and House Speaker tip oneill. They knew how to compromise. Now Congress Must meet its responsibility to do the same for this generation and those that follow. I want to make sure that we place in the record information about that brokered compromise, and also reports from u. S. News and world report and other materials that attend to that extraordinary moment in history. Lets get the job done. We ask speaker johnson to bring up h. R. 2100 for a vote. I want to thank congressman larson, congressman neguse, congressman cartwright who are here this evening as part of this important messaging to the American People to say the time is now. Bring up h. R. 2100. Thank you for your extraordinary persevering leadership. Mr. Larson i thank the gentlelady from ohio. She mentioned mr. Cartwright who i think epitomizes the concern that exists in this body in the congress for people who go back home every week and meet with their constituents. The constituents of pennsylvania are fortunate that they have someone who understands their needs and understands the neglect that congress has shown in not adoctorsing addressing the number one Antipoverty Program for elderly and for children in this country. As difficult as times are now, we need to make sure that minimally we have a vote. I do not understand the reluctance on the other side to bring forward legislation and actually vote on it. If you got a better idea, or even if you object to this plan, please tell us what it is that you object to. What it is about Social Security and making sure that nobody works all their lives and pays into a system and then retires into poverty. Matt cartwright understands that. He understands his district in pennsylvania and the importance of getting this legislation done. I yield the floor to him. Mr. Cartwright Ranking Member larson, i thank you. I wonder if you would submit yourself to a few questions. The first question i have is, we heard it tonight, we heard it the statement that the assertion that Social Security for generations has been the single most important Income Support Program in america and has lifted millions upon millions of seniors out of poverty. Is that true . Mr. Larson yes, it is. Mr. Cartwright we also heard talk about this Republican Study Committee which is a group of 80 of the republicans here in the United States house of representatives, and its a committee that came up with a proposal about Social Security to raise the retirement age and require seniors to continue working into their senior years. Is that true . Mr. Larson not only is it true, but i think what the general public needs to understand, and you point out, mr. Cartwright, the saying goes like this. You know, people are living longer so therefore because they are living longer what we ought to do is raise the age. What the Study Committee doesnt tell you is that for every year you raise the age, thats a 7 cut in benefits. Oh, so if you raise the age to 70, thats a 21 cut in your benefits going forward. How is it from just near logic that if youre living longer you need to live on 21 less . The American People understand this. And thats why they are so upset. But thats why, mr. Cartwright, we need a vote. Mr. Cartwright one final question for you, Ranking Member larson, this idea of raising the retirement age, and as you explained very well, which constitutes a cut in benefits for every year they raise it, economists have worked it out how much thats going to cost out of the Social Security system. Their plan is to raise the retirement age and cut Social Security benefits by 1. 5 trillion, with a t. Thats what happens thats what happens when you raise the retirement age to 69. Is that right . Mr. Larson that is correct. And i guess the sad thing is, that this needs a vote. It needs a debate. Philosophically, if you believe and god bless some on the other side do, believe that this is some form of socialism and that everybody ought to be able to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps and make due for themselves, you dont need the government to do anything for you, even when you paid in all your life to a program that has been the greatest American Program to sustain our elderly and to sustain our children. If you disagree with that, thats terrific. But lets take that to the American People. And where do you do that . On the floor of the house of representatives. Where you actually will debate the issue and put forward your proposals versus ours. Isnt that the way democracy is supposed to work snr mr. Cartwright tonight, im here to speak on behalf of 191,000 people from northeastern pennsylvania who depend on Social Security checks coming in to keep them alive. Probably over 40 of them look to those checks as the only visible means of support that they have. And now the Republican Study Committees f. Y. 2025 proposal talks about raising the retirement age to 69. You know, thats fine, if, like us, you fly a death for a living. But if you do what so Many Americans do, people who paid in, paycheck, after paycheck after paycheck into this sacred promise, fica, if you do what they do, they have to lift and climb and carry and dig. These are the people doing manual labor and they are expected to work well into their senior years according to the Republican Study Committee. Folks, this is a breach of a promise. It is a betrayal of the americans who paid into this system their entire work lives. Its unacceptable and something that the republicans have done year in and year out. Remember in 2006 it was that they were proposing privatizing the entire Social Security system. Saying, that will free people to invest money in the stock market. And what happened to the stock market . It cratered. People would have lost their entire lifesavings and no checks of any nature coming into their post office boxes. Folks, the answer is not cutting benefits but mr. Larsons bill. This bill would increase benefits by 2 of all Social Security beneficiaries for the first time in 52 years and eliminate the w. E. P. Which hurts policemen, firemen, prison correctional officers, all sorts of public employees. Rather than cutting benefits, representative larson and the Democratic Party have a plan to protect and enhance Social Security. Its a plan to put people over politics and make good on our promise to put americas Seniors First and pass Social Security 2100. I yield back to you. Mr. Larson i thank you and jody arrington, i say that a lot of times. We say good friend. But i appreciate the effort that he puts into his work. And i bring these cards here this evening just to point out to our colleagues what it is and we made one for every member of congress. And this is just a direct plea. Understand what is going on in your district because of Social Security. And then also understand that and citizens have every right to ask, so why hasnt congress do anything to enhance this program . Democrats and republican in more than 50 years . Especially when we know how vital this program is to our own system of capitalism and entrepreneurialism and what it means to every single one of our communities. There is not a better Economic Development program that texas will receive than the individuals in every ones district receiving their Social Security check. Theyre not going out and buying stock options. Theyre buying groceries. Theyre going to the pharmacy. Theyre going to the dry cleaners. Theyre paying their rent and their mortgages. Theyre meeting the concerns in their community and in doing so. Those communities can thrive. Its long overdue. More than 50 years. All were asking for is a vote. If you got a better idea in a democracy, the way i was brought up, you put it out there and lo and be hold, we actually have a vote, a vote that requires a debate and a discussion and then congress demonstrating what it believes in by actually casting a vote. I yield the final comment to our leader, joe neguse. Mr. Neguse well, i would just simply say, one of the many privileges i have in serving as assistant democratic leader is having the opportunity to see firsthand the way in which my colleagues and the House Democratic caucus are able to convert their passion and conviction on consequential policy issues into action. And that is precisely what the gentleman from connecticut has done for the better part of the last decade. And when he first introduced this legislation. I am proud to support it. I am proud to support his efforts to protect and enhance Social Security and to do everything that we can to ensure that our colleagues plans on the other side of the aisle to dismantle this Program Never see the light of day. I yield back to my friend from connecticut. Mr. Larson i thank the gentleman and i thank the speaker. The speaker pro tempore does the gentleman yield back . Mr. Larson yes. The speaker pro tempore members are reminded to address their remarks to the chair and not a perceived viewing audience. The gentleman from texas, mr. Roy, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. Mr. Roy i thank the speaker. I know this must be campaign season. My colleagues are trotting out the old push granny off the cliff talking point. Never fails. You want to save Social Security that the trustees put out a report this week that it is going to be under water by 2033. You want to ignore that, ignore that reality instead of dealing with the problem. What do they do . They trot out the same old story about taxes. By analysis by left, right, center, you can tax the entirety of the top 1 earners and cant balance the budget. The math doesnt work. So we can throw this all around in Election Year rhetoric, but the truth is our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are not just watching Social Security going bankrupt but they are bankrupt about what to do about it. You have to constrain and deal with issues and recognize the fact that we are 34 trillion in debt and we are now going to crack 1. 1 trillion of interest. That is far more than our entire defense budget. Our retirees are going to have a problem in 2033 and the Trustees Report they will be getting 79 cents on the dollar in 2033. We can have a conversation about what you want to do about taxes but they will crush the entire and drive up inflation making those recipients have less value in their Social Security dollars. The average american afford to live whether they are easterning or retiree because the dollar value is decreasing because we are printing money. And my colleagues have no interest in being fiscally responsible. But im an equal opportunity. It is a repeating problem that never ends. But it is my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, my radical progressive democrat colleagues and no other way to characterize who want to use scare tactics rather than addressing the fiscal issues that address our nation. The fact is, they are destroying the American Dream, killing the ability of the average American Family to prosper. Families are struggling to pay bills or buy a car. Why . Because we have regular you lailted them. And we are killing the ability of an american to buy a car with an interm Combustion Engine and piling up e. V. s on the lots across the country. The Biden Administration embraced a tailpipe rule and 2 3 of the of and crushing the American Dream before your veryize. The socalled Inflation Reduction Act mandating subsidies of green programs that are subsidizing china and Massive Corporation that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle decry. It will punish hardworking americans who are trying to create wealth, but dont want to do the massive green new deal. Thats the truth. And its destroy the americans ability to live. Americans are hurting because of democratic policy. Americans cant buy a car or afford groceries or pay power bills pa why . Because of my democrats and their policies regulating and destroying the average American People. Lets not talk about the price of homes and real estate. All these things are increasely and highly regulated. Thats problem number one. But lets talk about what our radical Progressive Democratic colleagues are droig. The rule of law. It is the single thing that attracts to bring people to the United States and create wealth and opportunity. Single greatest thing that has distinguished the United States of america from the rest of the world for now a september try, particularly since the founding of this nation. The fact is, the rule of law is being destroyed by my radical, Progressive Democratic colleagues. Purposely being destroyed. This week we have bells on the floor and were talk bills on the floor and were talking a lot about our police and our Law Enforcement officers. But its not about a week. Weeks are stupid. We come down here and we do all these things, we do ribbons and all these things to say, oh, were going to have a week. The fact is, every week is police week. Every week our cops are in danger. Every week our cops are being undermined by radical progressives in cities around this country, endangering the people in the communities while endangering the Law Enforcement who are supposed to protect them. Every single week, not this one. Every week. Last year, november, 2023, in austin, a city which defunded our police by 150 million, driving down our number of cops, we are now at least 350 if not 500 below the level that were supposed to be at, the level we were at before covid, because we dont have the ability to recruit Law Enforcement after decimating the budget. That was the radical city council led by radical progreives democrats in progressive democrats in austin which are reflected and mirrored by the radical progressive democrats sitting right here in this chamber like cori bush who said we should defund the police. Like the Ranking Member of the judiciary committee, mr. Nadler, who signed a letter along with our colleague, ms. Ocasiocortez, saying we should defund the metropolitan Transit Authority in new york. Signed that letter. I asked the Ranking Member in the rules committee the night before last, well, hows that working out . How safe does new york feel . How safe is the subway system in new york city . Because right now i think theres a whole hell of a lot of people looking at new york and saying, what happened . Whole hell of a lot of people are looking at the Nations Capital saying, how can i come see my representatives and come to the Nations Capital and feel like im going to be safe . Last year in austin, where the radical progressive democrats on the city council defunded the police, we saw the unfortunate and tragic shooting of Police Department officer jorge pastor who was a hero who was shot and killed in the line of duty last december. In san antonio we had three Police Officers who were shot during a standoff with an armed career criminal who had absconded bond and was wanted on multiple charges. Why . Because the radical progressive democrat d. A. s and the radical progressive judges all funded by sorrow, soros, all purposeful, all in a network around this country, they let these guys out. And then they shot cops. 378 officers were shot in the line of duty in 2023. 138 peace officers died in the line of duty in 2023. 48 by gun fire, 10 by vehicular assaults, 10 by heart attack. There were ambushstyle attacks in 2023 which claimed the lives of 20 officers. This year 58 Police Officers have died in the line of duty. Theyre under attack every single day and our radical Progressive Democratic colleagues dont care because theyre totally fine defunding them. They want to come to the floor of this body and say its not true. When theres mountains of evidence saying it is. And in fact 113 of my colleagues voted against a resolution which decried the defunding of cops. Just last year. In austin, crime is skyrocketing. 73 homicides in 2023, up from 71 in 2022. The highest level since going back some 40odd years. All as a result of defunding the police to the tune of 150 150 million. The fallout, 350 vacancies. The austin Police Department stopped responding to nonthreatening 911 calls in the fall of 2021. Think about that. Crime has increased and overdoses are skyrocketing in part due to the lawlessness of our wide open borders. The rule of law doesnt matter to my radical Progressive Democratic colleagues. The rule of law is being undermined, the safety and security of the people i represent is being undermined and its being made worse. The fact is now we have a fentanyl crisis all across this country and in particular in places like austin, texas, where just two weeks ago we had i dont even know the exact number. But there were 57 reported cases 57 reported cases of individuals overdosing in a matter of a 72hour stretch, killing at least nine people and i cant remember the number of people who had to be resuscitated by narcan. Its the largest fentanyl poisoning in austin for over a decade and its happening because this stuff is pouring across our southern border. Which brings me to a point. The rule of law. The rule of law being undermined by our radical democratic colleagues who are undermining cops, defunding cops. The same radical Progressive Democratic colleagues who are leaving our border wide open and exposed, blatantly disregarding the law, undermining the rule of law, the very rule of law that attracts immigrants to come to our country. And we have Police Officers killed by illegal aliens. In march of 2024, an illegal alien from mexico was charged with crashing his car that killed a 27yearold Washington State trooper. New york p. D. Officers were assaulted by a mob of illegal aliens, five illegal aliens savagely assaulted two officers. Suspects were back on the streets without bail. I think theyve been recently given some very minor sentences. Never forget d. U. I. Fatalities as a result of those who are here illegally, including in kirk county, which i represent in texas. Where you had a drunk illegal alien crashing into members of the thin Blue Line Motorcycle Club made up of active duty service members, Law Enforcement officers, and retired officers. Killing a retired officer, Joseph Pagley of chicago. Lieutenant colonel jerry wings and retired u. S. Army officer Michael White of chicago. Right here in our Nations Capital its become a region of lawlessness and disorder. Crime in d. C. Is up 30 . Violent crime, up 37 from 2022 to 2023. We had one of our own members of congress who was carjacked just 10 blocks from here. Another member of congress who was assaulted. Weve had Staff Members such as the staff member of senator rand paul who was stabbed. We had a teenage gunman a few weeks ago spraying ar15 rounds, they pretty much just let go. This is the state of things in our Nations Capital. The state of things in new york city. Its the state of things across our country. Its a return to lawlessness. And if you dont have the rule of law, what do you have . When you let violent criminals out of jail, what do you thinks going to happen . By the way, there are people on my side of the while are guilty of that. In the false name of compassion, were letting people out on the streets who are endangering our own people. The rule of law matters. And you cant have the rule of law if cops cant enforce the rule of law and be abandoned by the very people that are supposed to support them. And thats whats happening. You cant have the rule of law if the borders are wide open. If youre ignoring the law, parole, which is supposed to be on a case by case basis, to pump thousands of people into our country, including the individual who killed laken riley. Who was unlawfully paroled into the United States by this administration, but guess what. Without any consequence. Except for laken riley who is no longer with us. Thats what happened. Thats the truth. Lawlessness. Ignoring the rule of law. Endangering the American People. And now you have the rank lawlessness of a sham trial against the former president in new york. A boot strapped charge that relies on an unreliable witness being presided over by a biased judge. Thats the truth and anybody with eyes knows it. Its not the rule of law. Its the use of the law for political purposes and gain. It is, as some refer to it, lawfare, against the former president of the United States. I dont care what you think of President Trump, President Biden, anybody else. When you weaponize our system of justice for political purposes, you are nothing more than a thirdrate banana republic. And that is precisely what is happening in the state of new york right now by a lawless judge, a biased judge, frankly who should be investigated himself, whos targeting the former president for political purposes. It is clearly obvious. No citizen, no citizen would be treated to the same attack as what is happening right now to former President Trump. Again, i am not afraid to call out members of both sides of its aisle, im no afraid sides of the aisle, im not afraid to call out President Biden, im not afraid to call out former President Trump, im not paid to be a loyalist, im not paid to be biased, im not paid to wear a red shirt versus a blue shirt. I am paid to represent 750,000 texans, to follow the constitution, to honor my duty to the lord and to do my job. Thats what im paid to do. But to watch the former president of the United States being hauled into court day after day with a sham trial, and you cannot describe it as anything but a sham trial. The d. A. s office previously determined that its theory of criminal liability under new york law would not hold up. Thats the truth. So they boot strapped it into a felony because it would have been time barred if they hadnt done that. And so you got to have the felony charge proving that trump was concealing another crime, thats why theyre now trying to pull in a federal campaign charge. But the Campaign Laws in question are federal and when new yorks penal code speaks of concealing, quote, another crime, it must be referring to a crime under new york law. But theyre trying to boot strap it into federal law. Thats the truth. Its hard to see how the government could meet the burden of proof. According to my good friend, andy mccarthy, a former federal prosecutor, he wrote that saying, not unless theres as yet undisclosed evidence that trump actually paused to consider the possibility that these payments were in campaign expenditures, believed they might well be, yet went through with them anyway. All boot strapped federal law into state crime charges. Neither the Justice Department nor the federal election bureaucrats whose expertise lies in the operation of the relevant laws allege wrongdoing by trump. Yet here we are. And by the way, the whole theory hinges on michael cohen. Who is widely viewed to have committed perjury in multiple locations, including before this very body in the House Oversight committee. As chairman comer has laid out for the public to see. By the way, a convicted felon, he is. By the way, disbarred, he is. Previously pleading guilty to perjury, financial crimes, Campaign Finance violations. Southern district of new york decided it was not best to give him a Cooperation Agreement because theyd have to rely on his testimony. Yet here we are and weve got this case proceeding with bragg doing it for political purposes, all in front of a biased judge. The judge refused trumps legal teams request that he recuse himself over bias because his daughter worked as a Democratic Political consultant. One of our own colleagues, mr. Goldman, former a lawyer for schiff, representative schiff, during trumps first impeachment, is her client. And has also been working to prep cohen for testimony happening this week. And by the way, the daughter of the judge has worked for prominent democrats. Kamala harris, gavin newsom, congressman adam schiff. Has made multiple contributions to democratic campaigns. Meanwhile, bragg continues. This whole sham of a trial undermines the rule of law and the faith of the American People in it. You do not have to love the political target, in this case, former President Trump, to recognize the extraordinary damage that this is doing to the rule of law and our institutions. And by the way, the purposeful damage it is attempting to do to President Trump himself. Thats the purpose. And to his great credit, hes persisting. Not allowing this Kangaroo Court in new york to undermine his ability to continue to campaign, to try to garner the votes necessary to win in november, come in here and clean up the mess that is being created by the lawless Biden Administration, a Biden Administration which is engaging in lawless behavior on a daily basis, whether its student loans, ignoring the courts, whether its wideopen borders, whether its fentanyl pouring into our communities, whether its perpetuating this undermining of cops. Thats all happening in realtime. It is hard to keep up with the rampant level of lawlessness coming out of the left and my radical democratic colleagues to do anything about it. I might note as an equal opportunity basher of all members of congress that nor has really the republican side of the aisle done much to check the current president. Wide open borders . Funded. F. B. I. Lawlessness . Political witch hunts . Weaponized against the people and the former president . 200 million, new headquarters. If you fund it, you own it. But i can tell you that this lawlessness is demonstrably undermining the faith of the American People in the institution of congress and our institutions upon which our entire society rests. Right now, people do not believe that our political system is working. They do not have faith in elections. They do not have faith that our borders are being protected. They do not have faith that our police are being supported, that our streets are safe. They do not have faith in a system of justice that will target a former president for political purposes, a department of justice that will be weaponized against the people, a woman just yesterday, two days ago, that was sentenced to 57 months in jail, almost five year, because she protested at an Abortion Clinic in washington, d. C. Maybe she committed by the way, progressive activist. A progressive activist. In jail for 57 months. It is extraordinary. What are we doing about it . Were congress. Its right here in d. C. Does anybody care about this womans life . Maybe its a misdemeanor. Maybe she should pay a fine. I dont know. Maybe a misdemeanor like 30 days in jail if she did something that was blocking peoples access or something. I dont know. But five years in jail under a face act federal prosecution . Thats extraordinary. Does anybody care about whats happening to the weaponization of government against the people . Again, do you believe your nation is sovereign and secure . When our borders are wide open and terrorists and criminals come in . The answer is no. The county attorney in kinney county, texas, but testifying this week in the Budget Committee and he said, in 2021 they had about 150 prosecutions. Last year they had 6,700. My democratic colleagues shrug that you have a like its no big deal. They shrug off the 13 billion that texas has to pay to deal with wide open borders. They shrug off the death of laken riley like its just some happenstance because the president is violently disregarding our laws and pumping people into the United States in violation of pa real laws. Our cops are being targeted. Theyre not being prosecuted. So ross d. A. Are letting criminals out on the streets. Were funding the lawlessness. All of that is continuing while a judge goes after the former president of the United States while a radical d. A. In new york, another sorosd. A. Is going after the former president for clearly political purposes with a sham trial. All of that is happening. Why would the American People believe in the institutions of this country . And you would think wed be doing something to try to restore that. So here we are. Theres one thing we can do. One thing we should do. To restore some semblance of competence in confidence in our system this year. House republicans must pass the save act. House republicans have the opportunity to make clear what 87 of americans believe, that only citizens of the United States should vote in elections and in this case in the save act, that they vote in federal elections, they must be a citizen. They must produce documentary evidence of being a citizen of the United States to vote in a federal election. 87 of americans, vast bipartisan support across this country, to ensure that you can believe in our system of elections. That only citizens will be voting. Just last week, my radical Progressive Democratic colleagues unanimously opposed a bill to exclude nonUnited States citizens from the census used to allocate congressional seats. Also last week, in a very clearly freudian slip, President Biden described the millions of illegal aliens hes allowed into the United States as, quote, voters. Washington, d. C. , fairly notoriously, just had a training program, just in april, training people to be able to make it possible for illegal aliens in d. C. To vote. Now theyll all say chip, its already unlawful for people to vote in federal elections if youre not a citizen. Do you believe it . Do you believe that the jurisdictions across the country, including the Nations Capital, including san francisco, including oakland, including multiple places around this country who have embraced allowing illegal aliens to vote in local and state elections, do you believe that theyre being checked to ensure that theyre not voting in federal elections . Let me tell you this. Current law in all of our infinite wisdom as congress, since we get so many things right here. Current law, put forward by the congress, restricts the ability of states, restricts the ability of states to check to make sure that youre a citizen. True. True story. The brilliance of your United States congress. They say by law you must be a citizen to vote. But then they say, you, state, cant check to make sure that the citizen, that the voter is a citizen. Arizona has two citizens systems for voting. Statebased, why . Because they passed a law saying only citizens can vote. So they have a system to check state elections, state races, local races. They require to check the citizenship for that. For federal elections, they dont. Now how messed up is that . The constitution gives authority to the congress to be able to ensure the integrity of our elections. Yes, the states can set the time, place, and manner of how the elections are carried out. But congress has the power to step in to ensure that our elections are carried out appropriately. So we have a simple bill, the save act. It has 50odd cosponsors in the house and growing. My colleague, senator mike lee, in the senate, introduced it other there. Has multiple cosponsors and growing. This bill is simple. Every single republican should support it. And if they dont support it, they should answer why. Should voters in the United States who are voting in federal elections be citizens of the United States . 87 of americans say yes. Anybody sensible says yes. Should anyone who is going to vote in those federal elections, congress, senate, and for the presidency, should they have to demonstrate that they are in fact citizens . By presenting a passport, by presenting a voter i. D. , a real i. D. From a state issued drivers license, combined with a birth certificate, other if forms that we lay out. Like anything else you have to do. If you want to fly in this country, all the things you have to do to prove you are a who you say you are. And to my radical Progressive Democratic colleagues who protest, saying this is crazy, its already a requirement that you be a citizen to vote. Then what are you afraid of . What are you worried about . I will tell you what theyre worried about. Theyre worried about making sure its true. They worry about the fact that the vast majority of my radical Progressive Democratic colleagues would be perfectly fine requiring citizenship to vote. So we need to call the question, so we have a piece of legislation that is supported by vast numbers of election law experts and groups, supported by the speaker of the house, supported by 50odd republicans and growing. This bill needs to be brought forward, it needs to be brought to the house admin committee, needs to be prowght to the brought to the rules committee and the floor of the house. Needs to be voted out by my republican colleagues or they need to explain why. Its a simple question. If you want people to believe in their country, if you want them to to believe in the rule of law, if you want them to believe in the elections of their representatives and of the president of the United States so we can avoid what happened in 2016 when my radical Progressive Democratic colleagues questioned the election of President Trump over secretary of state hillary clinton. And did so vocally and loudly and repeatedly. Questioning. Again in 2020. Questions about the election. All the way right up and through january. If you want to get rid of those problems, then make sure our elections are believable. Make sure that you know who is voting and importantly make sure that only citizens of the United States of america are voting in federal elections. This is not a hard question. You either believe it, or you dont. To my republican colleagues who want to hide behind federalism, dont. The institution of the United States is clear. Both in terms of our ability to deal with the election of members of congress and the president as well as issues like naturalization, our power in this area is clear. Our ability to make sure that we can do it without unduly burdening the ability of a citizen to vote is clear. So get busy fixing it. If youve got a concern. But dont hide. Because theres going to be nowhere to hide. The future of our country depends on the faith the people of the United States have in our institutions. We should support our police. We should support the rule of law. We should put criminals behind bars. We should have a sovereign nation and a secure border. We should know who is here. We should remove illegal aliens. We should secure the worder boarder of the United States. We should make sure that only citizens vote in our elections. We should end the dangerous flow of fentanyl into our communities. We should stop countenancing the sham trials and the politicization of our judiciary system against the former president of the United States or the politicization of the department of justice against the American People. If you want to restore the greatness of this country, if you want to create prosperity, if you want to be able to believe in a country, if you want to be able to restore the American Dream and pass down to our kids and gran kids, the birth right of being an american, it all begins an ends with the rule of law. The rule of law is why people come to our country. To achieve greatness. They dont come here for free lunches. Not historically. Maybe more recently. But as the great economist Milton Friedman said, hes all for open borders if you get rid of the social welfare state. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a social welfare state. We need to limit the flow of people coming into the country and taking advantage of the social welfare state. We need to restore sovereignty. We need to make sure that criminals and terrorists arent coming here. We need to secure the border, end the from the of fentanyl, make sure only citizens vote, support our Law Enforcement, keep our criminals in jail and keep the American People safe. If you do that, theres a small chance that if combined with any kind of ounce of physical restraint by this body, i will not hold my breath on that one right now, we might be able to save this country for our kids and grandkids. But i want to be very clear in particular to my republican colleagues. If you think youre going to hide mind election season, if you think youre going to hide mind talking about what rules go down, what dont go down if you think youre going to hide behind the president ial election and the first 100 days of an agenda, if you think youre going to be able to hide mind that to avoid answering to the American People what we said we would do, cutting spending, balancing the budget, securing the border of the United States, ensuring our military is strong, has the tools to carry out its job with a clear mission, but is sparingly used and not in endless wars. If you want to make sure you can go dott doctor of your choice, get the health care of your choosing, not an insurance bureaucrat, if you want to make sure you can have a car you can afford and electricity in our home and if you want to be free from the bureaucracy of a federal government strangling the American Family,if you want to be able to send your kid to the school of your choice and make sure theyre being taught that america is great and god is real, and that we can do great things, if you want those things, then you have to actually fight for them. You cant just pass you cant just pass empty bills with empty titles. Because that all weigh do in this damn place. Every day. We did it today. We pass multiple bills that wont do a damn thing, all with fancy titles, that make it hard for people to vote against whatever that additional spending or additional bureaucracy is. Thats what we did. We did it today. Well do it tomorrow. And well then try to campaign on those empty nonsense bills. Why dont we do something that matters . Why dont we actually do one thing we said we would do . Yes, i said it again. To my republican colleagues who excoriate me because of a speech i gave before thanksgiving. I said, name one thing. Well, we passioned a tiktok bill on a bipartisan basis that will require china to divest tiktok. I support that. All right. Ok. Right . Weve got this great save act were moving, i hope we can actually as if off the floor, we havent done that yet. But when are we going to step up to the plate and do the things we said we would do . Have we cut spending . No. Did we honor the caps to even hold spending . No. Have we secured the border . No. Have we reined in what i might refer to as endless wars and endless conflict for the last 25 years, weve been in perpetual war, funding other peoples wars . No. Have we restored Energy Freedom . No. Have we restored Health Care Freedom . Go to the doctor of your choice. No. When are we going to do one of those things . Because thats why were here. Thats why the voters sent us here. So we should get busy doing the things that we said we would do and it all begins and ends with restoring the rule of law in this country. Stand by cops, bad guys in jail, sovereign nation, stop letting people come in, stop letting fentanyl come in. Require that only citizens vote. Pass the save act to ensure that we can believe in our elections and that only citizens are voting in them. With that, i yield back. The speaker pro tempore members are reminded to address their remarks to the chair and not to a perceived viewing audience. Does the gentleman have a motion . Mr. Roy probably a bunch. I move to adjourn. The speaker pro tempore the question is on the motion to adjourn. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. The ayes have it. The motion is adopted. Accordingly, the house stands adjourned until sock a. M. Tomorrow 10 00 a. M. Tomorrow for morning hour debate. In recognition of National Police week. Before the week is over we expect legislation when members return watch live coverage here on cspan. Announcer earlier today, federal officials testified on the Ongoing Investigation into the collapse of Baltimores Francis scott key bridge, which occurred in march of this year. Watch the house transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing tonight at 9 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan, cspan now, or online at cspan. Org. Now they wrecked their countries and they want to come here and collect our welfare instead. Most people come here to make a better life if not for them, for their kids. My italian grandparents never spoke english. I never had a conversation with them. And yet they made america great. Announcer this friday, author and coulter over the question, should the u. S. Shut its borders . Watch friday at 9 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan and online and cspan. Org. Announcer since 1979, in partnership with the cable industry, cspan has provided complete coverage of the halls of congress. From the house and Senate Floors to congressional hearings, party briefings, and committee meetings. Cspan gives you a front row seat to how issues are debated and decided. With no commentary, no