Nanette Barragán

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, it is this conduct that is causing people to go out in the streets and peacefully protest. President Trump's deployment of troops only escalated tensions and caused further unrest. Democrats have been clear. Anyone who commits violence must be held accountable. We must recognize that peaceful protests are patriotic. Deploying troops to silence dissent is not. Mr. Speaker, this resolution ignores those facts to score political points, and I urge a ``no'' vote.

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this partisan and misleading resolution under consideration. We have heard our colleague distort the facts already through this debate. I want to remind the American people and everybody that it was local law enforcement that got the situation under control before the National Guard and the Marines showed up. I know because I was on the phone with the sheriffs and local law enforcement who said, no, they don't need anybody, that the situation was under control. This resolution distorts the facts of what happened in Los Angeles. It falsely paints a picture of widespread chaos across Los Angeles to justify and legitimize Donald Trump's dangerous decision to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines on American soil, all without the consent of California's Governor or a request from local leaders and law enforcement. That is why I worked with Representative Zoe Lofgren to introduce a resolution that condemns violence, supports peaceful protests, and sets the facts straight. Angelenos have exercised their First Amendment right to peacefully protest Federal ICE raids that have terrorized our communities. Unfortunately, there have been a small handful of troublemakers who have taken to the streets to cause destruction and physical confrontation. Mr. Speaker, they should be arrested and prosecuted, something that the Governor, the mayor, and L.A.'s congressional delegation have called for from the start. Let's remember, though, how we got here. What we have seen on our streets is chilling. There are masked men in unmarked cars. They have no identification or badge. They are drawing weapons. They are swarming businesses and parks to indiscriminately stop, arrest, or detain immigrants and U.S. citizens. People are being stopped and detained because of the color of their skin. These are not violent criminals. The majority of the people have no criminal record. They are taking the parents, and they are leaving the kids stranded. They have set off flash-bang grenades in crowds. ICE even arrested U.S. citizens based on how they looked.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, Senate Republicans are making Donald Trump's big, ugly bill even uglier with steeper cuts to Medicaid that will leave more kids, parents, and seniors without healthcare. This is all so they can reward their billionaire donors with even bigger tax breaks. This bill would deeply cut Medicaid and hurt our most vulnerable. Don't take my word for it. Republican Senator Thom Tillis shared this chart on the State-by-State impact of Senate Republicans' newest cuts. Do you live in North Carolina? If you do, you stand to lose $38.9 billion and kick up to 600,000 people off Medicaid. Many States, including Republican States, lose tens of billions of dollars in Medicaid funding. How about Virginia? Virginia will lose $24.8 billion. Louisiana, the Speaker's home State, will lose $20 billion. South Carolina will lose $20 billion. States with small budgets would get hammered. Iowa loses $4.1 billion. What did Senator Ernst from Iowa have to say about it? She is not concerned. She says: ``Well, we all are going to die.'' Kentucky loses about $12 billion. What does Senator Mitch McConnell have to say about that? He says: ``They'll get over it.'' What? Are you, the American people, going to just get over losing your healthcare so that a billionaire can buy a bigger yacht? Do you want to die young in the emergency room so that a Fortune 500 company can add a few more seats to their private jet? Here is what Senate Republicans are doing that caused Senator Tillis to make this chart. Right now, States use a variety of tools to help pay for their share of Medicaid, which is the health insurance program for low-income families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities. One of the most important tools is called a provider tax. That is when hospitals or health plans agree to pay a small tax to keep Medicaid running. In return, the Federal Government matches those dollars. It is a Federal-State partnership that keeps hospitals open, staff paid, and patients covered, but the Senate Republican bill would limit how much States can use that tool. It puts new restrictions on States that expanded Medicaid to low-income people, saying they can't collect as much from hospitals or health insurance companies as they do now. It means the Federal Government would be telling States that you can't use the money you have depended on for years to keep Medicaid going. That is going to cause a lot of damage. Hospitals would lose funding. States will face bigger budget gaps. What happens then? You will see cuts: cuts to healthcare, cuts to services, and cuts to the very people who need help the most. This means tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars lost. Those are not just numbers on a page. Those are real people losing health insurance. Those are real patients getting turned away and real communities, especially rural and low-income communities, being left behind. This morning, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that these provider tax restrictions cannot be included as drafted, but this fight is still very real. We have seen Republicans rework the text of these radical cuts to get the Parliamentarian's approval, and at least one House Republican suggested today that they just ignore what this Parliamentarian has said. I have no doubt that the plan Republicans come up with will slash Medicaid and devastate hospitals to fund their tax breaks. Now a few Republicans here in the House have said these new cuts go too far. Yet, are they really willing to stand up for their constituents and vote ``no'' if the Senate sends over these deep cuts? I am not going to hold my breath because Republicans have already caved last month and voted to kick millions of people off Medicaid. House Democrats and Senate Democrats are united to stop this big, ugly bill. Mr. Speaker, I urge Republicans in Congress to join us to do the right thing and oppose this bill. Republicans should stand up for hospitals, stand up for patients, and stand up for the millions of Americans who count on Medicaid every day.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the cruel cuts Republicans want to make to SNAP, the food assistance program. These would be the largest cuts in our Nation's history. No one in the United States should go hungry. Unfortunately, President Trump and Republicans don't agree. They want to make the largest cuts in our Nation's history to the food assistance program that we call SNAP. House Republicans just voted to do this. When did they do it? They did it in the middle of the night so it wouldn't be covered and so nobody would see. House Republicans voted to take away food assistance from hungry Americans. House Republicans' plan would slash and cut $300 billion from SNAP. That means ripping away meals from children, seniors, veterans, and families just trying to get by. Why? It is all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. SNAP is not a handout. It is a lifeline. Behind every SNAP benefit is a person. It is a mother, a veteran, and a neighbor doing everything they can to survive. We also know that food assistance helps keep people healthy, and it helps them survive. What do Republicans say when constituents have expressed concerns about cuts to things like healthcare and programs to keep them healthy like SNAP? This is what they say: ``We are all going to die.'' This is an actual quote. This is what Republicans are telling the American people. We are going to die anyway. How outrageous is that? How cruel is that? Mr. Speaker, that may be true someday. It is no excuse to let people starve today and not because of Republicans' cruel policies. We should not turn our backs on millions of Americans and their fight to survive poverty and live with dignity. Republicans are doing nothing to bring down costs. Instead, their policies and their failure to act are making life more expensive for hardworking Americans during a time when inflation and a rise in grocery prices make it harder for people to get by. Mr. Speaker, let me tell you about Tylynn. Tylynn is a single mother of four from Wilmington, California, in my district. She fell on hard times. Tylynn was homeless and lost custody of her children because she simply could not afford to feed them. SNAP changed everything. With help, she got back on her feet. Today, she has a stable home and has regained full custody of her children. Mr. Speaker, let me also tell you about Michael. Michael is a 66- year-old disabled veteran from San Pedro, California, in my district. He served in the Army for 7 years. He and his partner, Suzanne, now rely on SNAP to afford groceries. Without it, they go hungry. For Tylynn, for Michael, and 42 million Americans, food assistance programs like SNAP are so critical. It is not a luxury. The Republican budget bill to cut SNAP is a direct threat to their well-being and to millions of Americans. House Democrats stood strong and voted to oppose these cuts. The fight is not over. We will not stand by silently while Americans are pushed into hunger. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Senate to reject these cuts. I urge my House Republican colleagues to grow a spine to fight so Americans don't go hungry.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, don't believe the lies. House Republicans are trying to pass a budget that kicks people off healthcare. Today, the Congressional Budget Office released an analysis that Republicans' proposals that they are considering would slash Medicaid spending that would lead to millions of people losing healthcare coverage. Behind every Medicaid recipient is a person whose life depends on it. Brian Gutierrez, a constituent from South Gate, California, lives with spina bifida, a lifelong disability. He says: For many of us, these cuts are not abstract numbers. They are the difference between stability and crisis, between life and death. I am healthy today because Medicaid stood by me. I am thriving because I have had consistent, reliable access to the care I need. Medicaid makes independence possible. It makes survival possible. It makes dignity possible. Any threat to Medicaid is a threat to our lives. The Republican budget is a threat to millions of lives. That is why House Democrats are fighting to protect Medicaid. Please, keep your hands off Medicaid.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 119.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak for the families who cannot afford to breathe dirty air for another day. I rise for the parents who have rushed their child to the emergency room because the smog outside triggered another asthma attack. I rise for the young people who have the right to a future free from polluted air, climate disasters, and preventable health crises. House Republicans are trying to overturn EPA's approval of California's clean air waivers, a move that would strip California's ability to protect its people from dangerous air pollution. This isn't just about California. Over one dozen States voluntarily follow California's standards. If we overturn these waivers, then families from New York to Oregon will feel it, too, in their lungs. States are not forced to adopt California's standards, but many choose to because of the harm air pollution causes their communities. If these measures pass, then more pollution will fill our air, more kids will miss school because they are sick, more seniors will land in the hospital, more families will lose loved ones far too soon to preventable deaths, and billions of dollars will be spent on health expenses that could be avoided. Communities like the ones I represent, low-income neighborhoods near freeways, ports, and warehouses and working-class communities of color, are already, indeed, breathing some of the dirtiest air in our country. Thousands of people in California and around the country wrote in support of these clean air protections that Republicans want to rip away. Jane Flynn, from the L.A. area, wrote EPA in support of the clean truck rule. She said: ``Living in southern California, I see how truck pollution impacts our families: asthma, heart disease, respiratory problems. These aren't just numbers. They are our children, our parents, and our neighbors. Please allow California to enforce stronger clean air protections.'' Tia Triplett from Los Angeles wrote to EPA that heavy truck pollution threatens the health of her community, and she urges stronger protections. House Republicans want to silence these voices. Our constituents don't need more diesel trucks idling near our homes, pumping smog into our lungs. They need cleaner trucks, cleaner cars, and cleaner air. Mr. Speaker, we should build a future where children can play outside without an inhaler in their backpacks or around their necks, a future with fewer hospital visits, not more. We should stand with communities fighting for their right to breathe, not keep them polluted. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with our communities and protect their right to clean air. Vote ``no.''

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, as the economy is tanking, costs are going up, not down. Today, we face a new threat and danger: The Trump government is abusing its power. The Trump government ignores court orders, ignores the Constitution, and then lies to try to justify its actions. Let's talk about Kilmer Abrego Garcia, a Maryland father and a husband who was literally abducted in the dark of night by the Trump government. This is not just a story about a man wrongly deported. It is a story about abuse by the government and the danger it poses to my colleagues and every American citizen in America. Kilmer Abrego Garcia lived here in the United States for over a decade. He had a court hearing where a court ruled that Mr. Garcia had a right to be here and that he would be in danger if he was returned or deported to El Salvador. Yet, despite the court order, ICE agents arrested Mr. Garcia anyway, and they deported him to El Salvador. Despite this court order, ICE agents, without a new hearing and without any process, basically made him vanish. He is just gone at the hands of the Trump government. He was sent to El Salvador to one of the most notorious megaprisons in the hemisphere. It is a prison that American taxpayers are helping to support in a foreign country. Let me be clear. Mr. Garcia had rights. The government ignored them. That is not how justice works. It is not just Mr. Garcia. We now have learned of children who are U.S. citizens who were deported by this Trump government and administration. One of those children is just 4 years old and was receiving treatment for cancer. Yes, cancer. How does deporting a sick child keep our community safe? It does not. This isn't immigration policy, but this is cruelty, plain and simple. The idea that the U.S. Government can deport children who are U.S. citizens or send immigrants to dangerous foreign prisons without a court hearing and then claim the government bears no responsibility should terrify every one of us. These cases are the most glaring examples, but the assault on due process runs deeper. This is not just about how we treat immigrants. It is about whether any of us can count on being treated fairly when accused of something. It is about whether there are still rules that protect people, or whether the government can just say: Trust us. We don't have to follow the law. It is about power unchecked and principles abandoned. Just yesterday, we also learned of a woman from Oklahoma and her children, all of them U.S. citizens. Federal agents broke into her house and took her money. They basically terrorized them and left. If we let them tear up due process for some, it is a danger to all. Mr. Speaker, I will not stand silent while families are ripped apart and while the Constitution is trampled on. My colleagues shouldn't either.

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, after 100 days of chaos and corruption, Donald Trump and House Republicans are crashing the economy in real time. The majority has hit the American people with the largest tax increase on the middle class in at least 50 years. We have watched markets around the world plummet, prices spike, and our trading partners hit back with tariffs on American goods that are attacks on the American people. Hardworking Americans are paying more for food, clothes, cars and trucks, electronics, and other essential goods. Estimates are that the Trump tax will cost the average American family almost $5,000 a year in additional costs. Our constituents' 401(k)'s, pensions, and kids' college funds have all taken a huge hit. Trump's reckless trade war has only begun to squeeze the American people. Imports at the San Pedro Bay port complex in my district are expected to plunge in May. That means empty shelves at our stores in a few weeks and further price spikes as shortages hit. Exports at the port complex have also plummeted as retaliatory tariffs by other countries hit agriculture and manufactured goods. This hurts consumers. It hurts businesses. It hurts our port workers and truck drivers who support their families, thanks to trade with other countries. Trump and his billionaire donors won't feel any of it. They don't feel it when the cost of a can of soup is up a couple of dollars because of tariffs on aluminum. They don't feel it when the cost of our constituents' kids' shirts go up $10 apiece because there is a tariff on the clothes they buy or when the cost of their next oil change goes up $20 because the parts and filters are imported. The average American will feel it. Trump has even admitted that they will have to feel some of the pain from his Trump tax, and what is the response from Republicans in Congress? The majority plans to follow Trump off the cliff and make it worse while we are on the way down. This month, Republicans plan to pass the new tax cuts for their billionaire donors and big corporations, and their giveaway to the wealthy will be paid for by cuts to Medicaid, basically healthcare, and food stamps that hardworking American families rely on. This is right as the Trump tax will make it harder to make ends meet, to save for retirement, to pay for prescriptions, or care for aging parents. House Democrats are doing everything we can to stop Trump and Republicans from destroying our economy and to keep their hands off of earned benefits. We must put hardworking Americans first. Assault on Immigration Due Process

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 95 and NAY on Roll Call No. 96.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on March 27, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted: NAY on Roll Call No. 77; NAY on Roll Call No. 78; YEA on Roll Call No. 79; NAY on Roll Call No. 80; NAY on Roll Call No. 81; NAY on Roll Call No. 82; and NAY on Roll Call No. 83.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Chair, I oppose H.R. 1048, the DETERRENT Act, because it imposes unnecessary, overly broad reporting mandates on universities under the pretense of national security. While protecting research from foreign influence is important, this bill goes too far, sweeping in respected organizations like the United Nations and the World Health Organization. It creates a complex and punitive reporting system that burdens universities with vague requirements and excessive penalties, while assigning enforcement to the Department of Education, which is understaffed and lacks national security expertise. The Trump Administration is also trying to dismantle the Department of Education. The bill also mandates a public database of faculty contracts and donations, raising privacy concerns and exposing researchers to potential harassment. This approach does not strengthen security--it creates red tape that harms academic collaboration. That is why I oppose it, along with major higher education groups and research institutions.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I oppose H.J. Res. 24 and H.J. Res. 75 because these resolutions roll back common-sense energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and walk-in coolers-- standards that were rigorously developed by the Department of Energy (DOE) to save businesses money while cutting energy waste. These updated regulations are technologically feasible, economically justified, and essential for reducing long-term costs for small businesses like restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores. The DOE estimates that businesses using these appliances would save over $11 billion in energy costs over the next 30 years--savings that would go back into local economies. I urged the Biden administration to finalize these rules last Congress, and I remain committed to protecting energy efficiency initiatives that reduce costs and pollution.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to honor the life and legacy of my friend and colleague, Congressman Raul Grijalva. Raul was more than a public servant. He was a force for justice and a relentless champion for working families, the environment, and indigenous communities. He led with passion, conviction, and an unwavering belief that government should serve the people. As chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Raul never backed down from a fight. I had the privilege of serving on the committee under his leadership when I first came to Congress, and I learned so much from his example. His commitment to environmental justice wasn't just words. It was action. Together, we worked to pass legislation on climate justice grants, urban parks, and ensuring that our most vulnerable communities weren't left behind. His mentorship, wisdom, and kindness I will carry with me always. Raul made a difference in Congress, his community, and in the lives of so many. While we feel his loss deeply, we also feel the responsibility to continue his fight. My heart is with his family, his loved ones, and all who were fortunate enough to know him.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm for the American people about the abuse of power that House Republicans are allowing and that puts the American people in danger. House Republicans have allowed billionaire Elon Musk and his gang of thieves to enter the U.S. Treasury Department, fire the people entrusted with secret, private information about Americans, and give them that access. Madam Speaker, this billionaire, his interns, and his young workers have complete access to your Social Security number, your bank account number, your name, your address, your Medicare payments, your tax refunds, and your veterans benefits. This privacy violation endangers the personal information of the American people. Yet, where are House Republicans? They are totally silent, doing nothing, and saying nothing. They are just allowing it to happen because they are okay with it. What is the worst that could happen? Madam Speaker, your data could be accessed in a way that makes it vulnerable to hackers or identity theft. SNAP benefits could be cut, Head Start shut down, and your Medicare payments delayed or frozen, all without a paper trail. Elon Musk and his DOGE friends have the ability to choose what government bills to pay and what not to pay. I have heard from the American people. They do not want a Federal contractor who receives billions of dollars in government payments to decide which contracts to pay or to punish Americans who disagree. These individuals with no government accountability are now inside the very heart of our Federal systems, and Republicans are nowhere to be found. Elon Musk has bragged on social media that he has been able to cancel contracts and programs he doesn't like. This is reckless and illegal. Why would he want access to the information? It is to look for programs to cut, programs the American families and people rely on every day. It is to have more money to make sure House Republicans can give to their billionaire friends, and tax cuts. This is the Republican rip-off. Just last week we saw the consequences of this Republican rip-off in action. The administration issued an illegal shutdown order, a freeze that threw nonprofits, schools, health clinics, and entire communities into chaos. Critical grants and programs were frozen without warning. Just yesterday, we learned that some community health centers in rural America are shutting down because of it. Where are House Republicans? They are certainly not speaking out, and they are not standing up for our community health centers. Madam Speaker, imagine going to your doctor and you are told you cannot be seen because Elon Musk has cut off Medicaid payments to your State. Imagine your child's school closing because the money to fund it was frozen. That was the fear that went through our communities last week. Domestic violence shelters and health clinics worried about whether they would have to shut their doors. Meals on Wheels and the seniors who rely on it didn't know where their next meal would come from. While a judge has temporarily blocked the government-wide freeze, many grant recipients still cannot access funding. The administration has said that they are still going to implement the funding shutdown. The administration is also targeting programs such as the EPA's clean ports program which affects millions of dollars going to ports across the country to help clean up air pollution. In my district alone, that is over $400 million in funding to reduce pollution at the Port of Los Angeles. Madam Speaker, what could be next? How will it affect your family? There are reports that the Department of Education and our public schools' funding is next on their target list. Let me be clear. This is unconstitutional. Congress controls the purse strings, not the President and not Elon Musk. This money was legally appropriated by the people's Representatives. Elon Musk and House Republicans want to steal it from the American people to give tax breaks to billionaires and to get investments in our communities. House Republicans continue to remain silent. Their silence makes them complicit. Americans will pay the price. Democrats will stand up, speak out, and fight back. Just one of those things Democrats are doing to fight back is we are demanding that Republicans quickly bring up legislation to protect your private information. Let's all support that.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 22.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart for the thousands of California families who have been devastated by the recent wildfires in and around the Los Angeles area. Homes have been burned to the ground. Lives have been lost. Family pets are gone. Precious family photos and sentimental belongings have been charred, damaged, and, in many cases, totally destroyed. The fires didn't just destroy personal possessions. The fires took away the safe place we gather with family and call home, and it took out entire communities. What I saw, what I witnessed on my tours of the fire-damaged areas, was heartbreaking, devastating, just unreal. It was like being in a war zone. There was a smell of burnt trees and homes, with smoke still in the air, as firefighters continue to put out smoldering fires. The ash irritates your eyes. What was equally heartbreaking was the evidence of a desperate panic to evacuate, shown by the abandoned cars left in the middle of the streets, many charred, as I imagine people started to run to safety. Yet, I also saw our brave firefighters. I say thank you to them and our first responders for being on the front lines and for all that they are doing. There will be a long road to recovery. We must stand with our neighbors, with our friends, with humankind. It is the right thing to do. It is the compassionate thing to do. It is what we have done repeatedly when communities face natural disasters. It does not matter if you are in Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, or California. When our communities suffer, we must pull together as one to help communities with the aid they need to rebuild. When hurricanes hit Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina over the years, we didn't say, ``Don't send aid because of politics.'' When the Speaker's home State of Louisiana suffered losses and devastation, we didn't say, ``Let's attach strings to the aid.'' We don't do that because, above all, we help our fellow Americans. We don't turn tragic situations caused by natural disasters into political fights. Let's not start now. I implore my colleagues to put politics aside, to love thy neighbor as yourself, to support a bipartisan recovery effort with no strings attached that builds a safer, more resilient future for our communities harmed by the wildfires.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I missed votes on the House floor. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 122; NAY on Roll Call No. 124; YEA on Roll Call No. 125; YEA on Roll Call No. 126; YEA on Roll Call No. 127; NAY on Roll Call No. 283; NAY on Roll Call No. 285, NAY on Roll Call No. 406; YEA on Roll Call No. 407; NAY on Roll Call No. 408; NAY on Roll Call No. 420; YEA on Roll Call No. 432; YEA on Roll Call No. 436; NAY on Roll Call No. 437; NAY on Roll Call No. 438; YEA on Roll Call No. 439; and YEA on Roll Call No. 479.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Family Caregivers Month. We celebrate caregivers who take care of our loved ones, who care for our mothers, our fathers, our siblings, our grandparents. It is caregivers who make it possible to keep our loved ones in their homes for as long as possible. It is caregivers who are there for our loved ones when we cannot be there. It is caregivers who provide comfort and care, companionship, and so much more to our loved ones. Sometimes the caregivers are paid. Sometimes the caregivers are unpaid. Sometimes the caregivers are family members, and those who are not, become part of our family. The majority of the caregiving workforce tends to be women and people of color. They all deserve our thanks and our recognition. Mr. Speaker, we thank them for their service and sacrifice to our families. It is essential. Caregivers provide around-the-clock care. Their contributions are often overlooked and undervalued. Caregiving requires time, money, and resources, and takes a toll on a caregiver's physical and mental health. Yet caregiving can be one of the most rewarding experiences. Mr. Speaker, as a caregiver for my mom who is 83 with Alzheimer's, I want every family caregiver to know that they are not alone and they are appreciated. Each day, there are also more and more caregivers who face the challenge of balancing care for both their children and their parents, while at the same time maintaining a career. That is why Congress should act to build and support a stronger care economy; a care economy that will help American families thrive and ensure quality care for their loved ones. Caregivers should only need one job, not multiple jobs to live. All caregivers deserve to be paid, and those that are paid, deserve a pay raise. On average, caregivers spend 26 percent of their income on out-of- pocket care costs that include housing and meals and medical costs. This financial strain hits hardest for younger caregivers and Latino and African-American caregivers, as well as those who care for loved ones with dementia. To reduce this financial burden, we should pass legislation to provide a tax credit to eligible families. We can build a strong care economy by passing legislation to have Medicare cover the cost of care for our loved ones. Let's support our caregivers and the American people by supporting policies that help build a strong care economy. This November and every month, we recognize and support family caregivers.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 432. Stated against:

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 420.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Thompson for yielding. We should be offended at the lies. We should be offended that the American people are being lied to. We should be offended that kids were separated from their parents and their families under the Republican Party and the Republican leadership. That is what the American people and they should be offended about. House Republicans are living in a land of make-believe when it comes to the record of Vice President Harris. We keep hearing the term over and over again, the lie that she was the border czar. Vice President Harris was never the administration's border czar. As a matter of fact, Republicans even know that because they had to change the resolution. There has never been such a position. It was invented by Republicans. Border security is the responsibility of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas. He has been to the border. He has met with the border chief. Republicans tried to impeach him, and they failed in the Senate. Now they have a desperate resolution to blame Vice President Harris for the border. Again, this was not the responsibility President Biden gave her. President Biden tasked the Vice President to address the root causes in the Northern Triangle countries of Central America that caused migrants to flee their home countries. While a lot of work remains, Vice President Harris got results. She announced an additional $310 million for humanitarian relief to address food insecurity for El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. She led efforts on a private-public partnership that has secured commitments from the private sector to invest over $5 billion in the region to improve peoples' lives. She worked with the Department of Justice to launch the Task Force Alpha to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking from the Northern Triangle countries. This task force led to over 220 convictions of members of human trafficking organizations. Border crossings from migrants from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, the countries in Vice President Harris' root causes portfolio, have also decreased in recent years. In fiscal year 2023 the crossings from these Northern Triangle countries made up 22 percent of all crossings, down from 41 percent in 2021 when she started. This resolution also criticizes the administration for the number of border crossings and the encounters. Guess what, Mr. Speaker? Border crossings are lower today than when the Trump administration left office. Let me say that again: Border crossings are down at a lower level than when even the Trump administration left office, but that is not convenient for my colleagues across the aisle. Mr. Speaker, Republicans also fail to tell you the Republicans have refused to vote even on a border supplemental bill because former President Trump told them: Don't do it, we need this for an election year issue. Here we are on the House floor talking about this as a political issue. What Republicans also fail to tell you, Mr. Speaker, is that more Democrats have actually voted for funding for DHS and border security than Republicans.

Ms. BARRAGAN. This resolution does nothing to address the challenges at our southern border, and Republicans know that. They are not serious in addressing border security. This resolution is not about solutions, it is about politics. Democrats, including Vice President Harris, will continue our work to address the challenges everyday Americans face. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to reject these desperate tactics and this dishonest resolution.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Chair, had I been present, I would have voted No on Roll Call No. 285.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 283.