Nanette Barragán

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. We will not be distracted by this political stunt. The Republicans' bill peddles the lie that the administration or the Democrats are attempting to ban gas stoves. That is just not true. The Department of Energy cannot ban gas stoves. The Department of Energy is simply proceeding with the congressionally mandated efficiency standard. So let's not be distracted about what this is. This has been a bipartisan issue. There is no need to peddle lies about anybody taking away gas stoves. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill and to support energy conservation standards to save Americans money. Let's save Americans money.

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I want to know, why are my Republican colleagues opposed to energy efficiency standards that will save homeowners money? Why? Energy conservation used to be bipartisan. Over the years under Democratic and Republican administrations, the Department of Energy has updated efficiency standards for light bulbs, dishwashers, refrigerators, washing machines, and dozens more appliances. The first efficiency rules were signed into law in 1987 by Ronald Reagan, and they included gas stoves. No one argued back then that the government was taking away your light bulbs or your refrigerator or your stove because it would have been nonsense, and it is nonsense here today. Many of our appliances use less energy today than they did decades ago, and it is because of energy efficiency standards that help drive those improvements. This saves Americans money after they buy a home appliance. Let me say that again. Energy efficiency saves Americans money. New efficiency standards for stoves are long overdue. They were delayed by several years by the previous administration. It is time to update them, not to delay it further. The fear-mongering over efficiency standards for stoves is Republicans playing politics. Democrats are focused on saving money for American households on their energy bill. We are focused on the climate crisis. When household appliances use less energy, they will cause less pollution. We will not be distracted.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, extreme Republicans are driving our economy toward a devastating default. They are holding the economy hostage. Holding our economy hostage hurts all Americans, especially communities of color and low-income communities. Republicans don't want to close loopholes for billionaires. Instead, their ransom demands are that we kick families out of their homes, that we rip away food assistance from grandma and grandpa, from women, infants, and children, that we cut access to childcare and make it easier for industries to pollute our communities. Democrats are united. We agree that America must pay its bills and continue to lower costs for working families, not default. Republicans must stop these dangerous games and come back to work.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Our children have been waiting too long. We must move forward with this EPA truck rule. This is what we need to make sure we are investing and moving toward clean trucks, and we will not stop until every community, no matter your ZIP Code, can go outside without worrying whether it is safe to breathe clean air. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill and to support clean air for all.

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to S.J. Res. 11 to overturn the EPA Clean Trucks rule. Tens of millions of Americans are exposed to dangerous levels of nitrogen oxide pollution from trucks. Many of them live in low-income communities and communities of color. I know. I represent the Port of Los Angeles where I am surrounded by four freeways and trucks everywhere. Now, they do move our economy. They move goods from the port out into the communities, and so we acknowledge that, but we are all too familiar with Code Orange or Code Red air alerts warning us not to go outside. Think about this: Our children cannot go outside and play at the local park because of the air quality, because of the pollution. We know that they are at increased risk for premature deaths, childhood asthma, and lung and heart diseases. If you go to a doctor's office in my district, the doctors there stock up on boxes of inhalers for children that they are waiting to come in because of the air pollution that is causing asthma. These truck pollution standards were last updated 20 years ago. That is the last time we updated the standards. How long do children need to wait? How long do children need to wait to get clean air? It has been 20 years. That is how long our communities have suffered without any help. This Republican resolution basically says too bad. We want you to wait longer for clean air. Whether it is Wilmington, California, in my district, or Wilmington, Delaware, across the country and everywhere in between, our communities just want to breathe. Delay is not acceptable.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to support funding for Medicaid, a crucial program saving millions of lives, including Latino lives. Eager to balance our budget on the backs of poor people, my Republican colleagues have proposed extreme cuts to Medicaid. Medicaid has served and transformed millions of lives, especially in minority communities. Medicaid has been a vital lifeline for Latino communities which face disproportionate health crises, from diabetes to mental illness. Since 2013, Medicaid expansion has cut the rate of uninsured Latinos in half, and Latino youth now make up over a third of children on Medicaid. This is a critical program and critical coverage for Latino communities. It means a little boy struggling with chronic depression has access to mental health care. It means a working daughter can spend more time at home caring for her mother with Alzheimer's. It means less medical debt, fewer hospitalizations, and greater access to preventative care. To cut costs, Republicans have suggested we impose work requirements, cut funding, or repeal the Affordable Care Act all together. All of these ideas would strip healthcare coverage from poor Americans who depend on Medicaid. Republicans claim they want to balance our budget. In reality, they want to slash critical programs for underserved groups. The single mother of three who spends all day taking care of her children should not lose access to healthcare. The disabled senior who can't survive outside of an assisted living facility should not lose access to healthcare. The little girl with leukemia whose immigrant parents can't afford a cancer screening should not lose access to healthcare. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to protect Medicaid and invest in expanding it. Millions of Americans are depending on it.

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, in honor of Women's History Month, I want to highlight a Latina trailblazer, Diana Vesga. This remarkable woman is the chief operating officer of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the largest art museum in the western United States. Prior of joining the museum in 2014, she worked as an investment banker and as a senior executive at Univision. A Colombian immigrant, she is one of the few Latinas in art museum leadership and only one of a few women to hold a chief operating officer position among the top art museums in the country. Just 10 percent of museum administrators nationwide are Hispanic or Latino, and even fewer are Latinas. Diana grew up in a family of artists and art leaders and has used her unique perspective to embrace and value all cultures as the museum expands. As the new Smithsonian Museum of the American Latino is in development, we could use her wisdom and the wisdom of other Latinas and Latinos in the industry. Mr. Speaker, Diana is an inspiration to Latinas everywhere. Support Medicaid Funding

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment to protect the public health of our communities in this plan to increase oil and gas production on public lands. My amendment prevents Federal lands from being included in the required oil drilling plan if it is within 3,200 feet of a residence, a school, or a hospital. This is a commonsense measure to limit the harmful impact of this legislation. People living near oil wells are exposed to air pollutants that can cause asthma, cancer, pregnancy complications, and preterm births. I have seen it firsthand in my district. Kids are suffering from headaches and nosebleeds from being too close to oil drilling. Come to my district in California in Wilmington, Mr. Chairman, to meet these kids. See how many of them have asthma inhalers around their necks and in their pockets. But whether you are in an urban community, a suburban community, a rural community, or a Tribal community, everyone has a right to clean air and a safe environment. Now, oil and gas producing States like Colorado, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico have drilling setback laws to protect communities. California also has passed a public health setback of 3,200 feet for any new well. This is a commonsense amendment for Democrats and Republicans to protect communities near our Federal lands from drilling. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment to protect public health, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk, No. 24.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule. The rules package is anti-Latino. It makes in order bills that attack abortion rights and reproductive health that Latinas rely on. It doubles down on Republicans' inhumane treatment of Latino migrants fleeing violence and persecution. Later today, Republicans plan to rush a vote on a bill that protects wealthy and ultrawealthy tax cheats, leaving low-income Black and Latino communities to bear the brunt of tax audits because they make easy targets. Republicans have begun this Congress with chaos and now plan to push extreme policies that do nothing to help Latinos in this country. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote against this rule.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be here today, to help highlight the incredible contributions that DACA recipients have made to our country and my district. There are over 800,000 DACA recipients across the country, and over 200,000 of them live in California. Today, I want to highlight a very special DREAMER in my district. A young lady named Mayra Garibo from Wilmington, California. Mayra's mother brought her and her little brother to the U.S. from Mexico when she was just 7 years old. When it came time for Mayra to attend college, her mother struggled to find the resources to help pay for her tuition. But because of DACA, Mayra was able to attend and pay for college, and eventually graduated from California State University Dominguez Hills, with a degree in Business Administration. With her degree in hand, Mayra was able to pursue her dream of working in content creation, while also having peace in knowing that DACA would protect her against deportation. In 2017, Mayra unfortunately lost her father, who lived in Mexico. After a 3 year-long battle, she obtained Advance Parole, and received a travel permit to visit Mexico, to finally visit her father's grave and mourn his passing in-person. This was the first time in 20 years that Mayra was able to return to Mexico. Mayra's talent continued to shine through, and her persistence and resilience paid off. With the help of Advanced Parole, she was able to further her career as a content creator, by seeking life changing job opportunities. She was able to travel and work in London and other places, where she did content creation for films that were eventually nominated for awards at film festivals. Mayra now works for the Long Beach Immigration Rights Coalition. Recently, while taking photos of graduates of the Coalition's Leadership Academy Program, she met and was moved by the story of another young DACA recipient. Mayra understood their struggle, and realized that she shared a common bond. Mayra's job has given her the opportunity to capture the stories of those who have struggled to be an immigrant in this country. It has allowed her to change the all-too-common narrative about immigrants, to one that depicts immigrants as resilient and capable of moving forward in difficult situations. When Mayra returned to the U.S. from her vist to Mexico and Europe, she was met with two signs eact time. One said U.S. citizens to the right and the other, non-citizens to the left. When Mayra encountered these signs, she said to herself: I know I have a permit to re-enter the country, but my reentry is not guaranteed. I begin to pray to God hoping I say the right things, and that I don't face an officer who isn't going to know what advance parole is. It's a feeling that is difficult to explain, you know you haven't done anything, yet you have to convince someone to let you into the country that you call your home.'' Mayra is just one of many DREAMERS who have made incredible contributions to our nation. She hopes that one day, she will be able to step to the right. The time is now for my Republican colleagues and the Senate to pass legislation that will provide permanent protections for DACA recipients and DREAMERS in this country. We can't wait any longer. Because your home is here (Porque su hogar esta aqui). Forever (Para siempre).

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Family Caregivers Month. Today, more than one in five Americans provide care to someone with health or functional needs. Caregivers are the backbone of our families and communities. They are our coworkers, siblings, parents, grandparents, and neighbors. Their service and sacrifice for our families and country are essential and immeasurable work, but their contributions are often overlooked and undervalued. Caregiving requires time, money, resources, and patience. It can take a toll on a caregiver's physical and mental health. As a caregiver for my own mom, I want every family caregiver to know that you are not alone, that we are in this with you. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. You deserve to feel celebrated. We must do more to ensure that you have the support that you need. You have a champion in Congress who will fight for higher wages and better benefits for you. We must continue to invest in programs like IHSS and WPCS so that our elders can stay home and have the dignity to be in their homes in their later years and be taken care of. Thank you again to all the caregivers out there for everything you do.

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. During this month, we honor the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer's, including my mom, along with selfless family members and caregivers. The nearly 6 million people with Alzheimer's are our sisters, our brothers, our parents, our grandparents, our neighbors, and our fellow Americans. This epidemic will only continue to grow. In the next 30 years, the number of Americans with Alzheimer's is expected to reach nearly 14 million. Fortunately, we are at an inflection point in scientific progress where life-changing treatments may become available, but they also need to be affordable, and we need to continue to invest in research. That is why I am introducing a bill this month to improve access to new, innovative Alzheimer's treatments that become available. I will continue to work with CMS to ensure all drugs receive fair and accurate consideration for Medicare coverage. Our fight against this heartbreaking disease is nowhere near done. Supporting National Family Caregivers Month

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, it was an honor to join Speaker Pelosi with the congressional delegation to Egypt to the United Nations' annual climate conference, COP27. Our bottom-line message to world leaders: America is all in to fight the climate crisis. We stand with our global partners to reduce emissions, go green, and meet our goals under the Paris climate agreement. Shipping emissions is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world. Congress has acted with the Inflation Reduction Act. Record climate investments are included in the IRA to accelerate our transition to a clean energy future. That includes a $3 billion investment from my bill, the Climate Smart Ports Act, to reduce emissions from ports across the country. As someone who represents the Port of Los Angeles, I know firsthand the work we must do to go zero emissions and commit with other countries to reduce shipping emissions through the Green Shipping Challenge. To get there at the speed and scale necessary, it is critical that Congress invest in zero-emission shipping technologies and provide the EPA with the resources to regulate emissions from ships. Working together, we can exceed our 2030 emissions reduction target and take collective action to save our planet. Recognizing National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Bernard E. Strickland, a constituent, a veteran, and a doctor. This is a long overdue recognition that he deserves for his contributions to our country and to our community. Born on January 21, 1922, Dr. Strickland served courageously in the U.S. military during World War II from 1943 to 1946. During his service, he led a squadron of soldiers as a sergeant in the historic 761st Tank Battalion. Known as Patton's Panthers, they were the first African-American tank squad to see combat in Europe. They were not permitted to serve alongside White troops, and they were the ones who went in to liberate concentration camps. Dr. Strickland and the rest of the battalion were crucial to advancing freedom internationally and racial equality domestically. The 761st Tank Battalion also assisted in making sure that those that were trapped--Jews that were liberated in these concentration camps--were able to get out. The things that he saw were horrific. His son, Henry, had reached out to my office to let us know about his service and about the fact that he had not been recognized. Today, I am proud to announce that Dr. Strickland will receive eight medals--eight awards--for his exemplary conduct, including the Good Conduct Medal; the American Campaign Medal; the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the Army of Occupation Medal with Germany clasp; the Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II; the Expert Badge with machine gun bar; and the Sharpshooter Badge with rifle bar. Following his honorable discharge, he continued to devote his life to helping others as a medical doctor practicing medicine for more than 25 years in California. Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Strickland for his tireless dedication to his country and to our community.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, on 6/23/22, I missed one vote on an amendment to H.R. 4176. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 294.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, on June 23, 2022, I missed one vote on an amendment to H.R. 4176. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 293.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month. I am wearing purple in support of the millions of Americans, including my mom, who are living with Alzheimer's disease. The nearly 6 million people with Alzheimer's are our sisters, our brothers, our parents, our grandparents, and our neighbors--our fellow Americans. Many are suffering in silence because there is so much stigma around having Alzheimer's. I want every patient, family member, and caregiver to know that you matter. Your quality of life matters. Know that you have a champion in Congress who knows how hard it is for family and caregivers. That is why I will continue to push for more investments in Alzheimer's research and care and will continue to fight so CMS provides equitable access to promising Alzheimer's drugs. Our fight against this devastating disease is nowhere near done.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Mr. Speaker, as we observe National Police Week, I am here to honor and celebrate the life and service of South Gate Police Detective Alexis Gonzalez of South Gate, California. Detective Gonzalez tragically passed away on April 25. Detective Gonzalez first joined the police department in 2013 as a police explorer. He graduated from the Rio Hondo Police Academy in 2017, realizing his dream of becoming a South Gate police officer. At the age of 27, Detective Gonzalez was a 5-year veteran of the police force and a hero in South Gate. He was a shining star and will be sorely missed by family, friends, and the entire community. We honor the life and service of Detective Gonzalez and his family, and of every police officer who has put their life at risk to protect our communities. May he rest in peace.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to commend and honor the extraordinary teachers in California's 44th Congressional District and across the United States. Teacher Appreciation Week is an annual celebration of educators and the remarkable contributions they make in the lives of our students, parents, schools, and communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our Nation's teachers innovated the education system to create new ways to connect and care for their students during times of uncertainty during both remote and in-person learning. And our teachers have done all of this while they care for themselves and their own families. Despite these challenges, teachers across the country continue to show up day after day to inspire, empower, and motivate their students. I'd like to highlight two of my district's extraordinary teachers: Audrey Casas and Youko Amemiya and share a bit more about some of their accomplishments. Audrey Casas is a passionate, brilliant, and community-focused Teach for America teacher in Los Angeles. During the pandemic she noticed some of her students and their families struggled to secure basic necessities, which led her to start working in the community to gather resources. Her success led to a nonprofit that she now runs in addition to her job teaching. She is passionate about student led practices and integrates many student-led projects into her teaching. Audrey's classroom is a safe space for kids and is often packed at lunchtime with her students including the ones she doesn't teach, to take part in ``lunch club.'' Some days the kids just hangout while they eat their personal lunches, and other days kids and their families will bring food to share. She constantly celebrates her students and fellow staff, from teachers to custodians to administrators, and is a known light on her campus, in her community, and in Lynwood. She was selected as Teacher of the Month by her students and her efforts were recognized by her school, district, and other regional news publications. Youko Amemiya is an enthusiastic and accomplished teacher in the City of Carson, who is dedicated to her students, her school, and her community. She has instilled a vision of climate awareness at her school site with the development of her school's Roots and Shoots Club. At the beginning of the year, she wanted to teach her students about caring for the environment by planting 100 trees throughout the community in honor of the school's 100-year anniversary. Her students and community rallied behind her and helped to plant over 200 trees. Mrs. Amemiya is also committed to helping beautify her school. Through her tireless work reaching out to community partners and applying to grants, she was able to secure planters, benches, trees, soil, and various plants to make her school shine. She has been a positive influence on her classroom, her Roots and Shoots Club students, and the larger Carson community. These are just two of the teachers in my district who make a profound impact on their students. Teacher Appreciation Week is a time to celebrate the contributions of educators. It's also a time to call for the policies and practices that will attract exceptional leaders to the teaching profession and support them throughout their career. We must break down the barriers that prevent individuals from pursuing teaching careers and make concerted efforts to retain talented and effective teachers. We need to create the conditions which allow teachers to grow, lead, and truly thrive in their profession. And, in many instances--it means paying them higher salaries. We cannot prioritize our students, without prioritizing our teachers. So, on this occasion of Teacher Appreciation Week, to the teachers in my district, I thank them for leading with ingenuity, resilience, and passion each and every day in their classrooms, and for their commitment to our students.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the millions of Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, and their family members and caregivers. I am speaking up because the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, made a decision that will severely limit access to the only drug shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer's. I think their decision is a mistake. Alzheimer's is a heartbreaking disease. It has no cure. These are the faces of Alzheimer's. They are our sisters, our brothers, our mothers, our fathers, our neighbors, our grandparents, our fellow Americans, who are living with this dreadful disease. As time passes, they are slipping away from their loved ones a little bit at a time. They have asked and hoped for something to help them. Anything. Anything that could give them more time with their families. For the past 20 years, there has been little progress on new Alzheimer's drugs. Like too many other Americans, I have had the heartbreaking experience of watching my mother struggle with Alzheimer's, and still have the challenge of finding sufficient caregivers to help care for her and those who speak Spanish. My mother's story is not unique. Nearly 6 million people in the United States are suffering from Alzheimer's, and this number is growing every single day. Last summer, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first new Alzheimer's drug, providing hope for families. But CMS will not cover it. They finalized a coverage policy that will tightly restrict access to the entire and only known class of drug that has shown promise to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Is that the way we should respond to this crisis? This is an access issue. People who have money and can pay for it will get the drug. People who are under a CMS program will not. Every day, Americans living with Alzheimer's are burdened with the expense of caregivers, doctors' visits, and seeing their family members decline. This is why my colleagues and I wrote a letter urging CMS not to limit access to breakthrough therapies for Alzheimer's patients. And as a representative of over 150,000 Angelenos who are living with Alzheimer's disease, I am deeply disappointed with CMS's decision. These are my constituents and members of my community, as well as yours. Time is not on our side in this fight. To all the patients, families, and caregivers out there who are struggling with Alzheimer's, I am not done. I stand with you and I will continue to fight for you.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, the high cost of insulin is a crisis gripping my district and our Nation. Time and again, my constituents have told me they can no longer afford their insulin. The prices are so high that many are resorting to desperate measures, like using expired insulin, rationing their doses, or not taking it at all. Communities of color disproportionately suffer complications of diabetes when they can't afford insulin. I know, because my district, which is nearly 90 percent Latino and African American, has a high rate of diabetes. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in L.A. County. Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to act. The Affordable Insulin Now Act will ensure lifesaving insulin is affordable for millions of Americans on private health insurance and Medicare. It will put money back in the hands of American families. Madam Speaker, I look forward to voting for its passage tomorrow.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, today I rise with a great sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the opportunity to serve the people's House and gratitude for passing my first standalone bill, H.R. 189, the John Lewis National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Endowment Revitalization Act. It passed the House and Senate, and on a bipartisan basis to boot. The bill is on its way to the President's desk, and on Friday, President Joe Biden will sign it in a White House ceremony that this kid from the harbor area of Los Angeles never dreamed was possible. This is a full circle moment for me, one that made me tear up last night as I sat to reflect how I got here and how my passion on the issue of disparities in health took shape. In 1998 as a young college student, I had an opportunity to work as an intern in the Clinton White House. I worked in the Office of Public Liaison doing African-American outreach under Ben Johnson and Minyon Moore. It was during my work there that I learned about the issue of racial health disparities. At the time, United States Surgeon General David Satcher highlighted the issue, and it became a passion of mine. A year later I would continue my work on the issue and in the healthcare space at the NAACP with Hilary Shelton. Ben Johnson and Hilary Shelton mentored and inspired me. They encouraged me to keep up my work on the issue. Today, as a Member of Congress, the issue of racial health disparities and the need for us to close the healthcare gap is among my top priorities. In that light, during the 116th Congress when I was in my second term, an opportunity arose to work with organizations like the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools and others on a bill to help fund research on health disparities at schools of excellence. I remember approaching our friend, the late John Lewis, about the bill. He encouraged me to fight and to get it across the finish line, and he agreed to become an original cosponsor. In this Congress, the 117th Congress, I renamed the bill in honor of my friend, the late John Lewis. H.R. 189 is now the John Lewis National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Endowment Revitalization Act. I thank the gentleman from Georgia, Representative Buddy Carter, for being a co-lead on the bill. The Senate bill, S. 320, was introduced and championed by Senators Bill Cassidy and Brian Schatz. I am grateful for their work to get this across the finish line and Senator Cassidy for being gracious. H.R. 189 will, once again, allow for current and former NIMHD or Health Resources & Services Administration Centers of Excellence to receive research endowment funding, money that is critical in the fight to reduce minority health disparities. The research endowment program at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities provides funding to the endowments of academic institutions across the country. Schools like Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will qualify; Morehouse School of Medicine, the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine, Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy, and many more will be eligible to receive funding under this bill. The goals of the program include promoting minority health and health disparities research capacity and infrastructure, increasing the diversity and strength of the scientific workforce, and enhancing the recruitment and retention of individuals from health disparity populations that are underrepresented in the scientific workforce. On Friday, 24 years after getting my start in politics at the White House, I will be back there again, this time as a Member of Congress to see H.R. 189 become law and move us one step closer to ending the disparities in public health facing communities of color. For that I am grateful.

Ms. BARRAGAN

Ms. BARRAGAN. Madam Speaker, the number of Americans living with obesity is reaching record levels. Today, nearly 100 million Americans are living with obesity, a complex chronic condition associated with other diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, and even cancer. Obesity also disproportionately impacts communities of color, particularly Black and Latino adults. Nearly half (49.6 percent) of Black Americans and 44.8 percent of Latino Americans are living with obesity, compared to 42.2 percent of their white counterparts. In my district in Southern California, which is more than two-thirds Latino, rates of diabetes and obesity are among the highest in the state. Unfortunately, outdated Medicare rules deny access to effective obesity care for millions of Americans. Despite a 2013 decision by the American Medical Association recognizing obesity as a treatable disease, Medicare still stigmatizes obesity as a choice and denies access to the full continuum of care. This is something we can change. Right now, there is legislation--The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act--that would modernize Medicare by providing access to anti-obesity medications and intensive behavioral therapy, thus expanding care to millions of Americans. New data shows that the American people support Congressional action to expand access to coverage for obesity treatments. 70 percent of adults surveyed in a recent Morning Consult poll conducted on behalf of the Obesity Care Advocacy Network support expanding Medicare coverage for prevention and treatment of obesity in adults. I urge all of Congress to join me in supporting the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act to begin to address our obesity epidemic in California and across the country.