Wesley Bell

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Washington University women's soccer team, who just secured their second-straight Division III national championship. These student-athletes reflect the best of St. Louis. What they achieved this season didn't happen by accident. It came from years of work, a culture of accountability, and a shared belief that success in the classroom and success in competition strengthen each other. St. Louis is proud of them, and WashU is proud of them. Their run reminds us that our city grows stronger when we invest in our young people. I congratulate the players, coaching staff, and entire community. I will admit, a lot of us are already looking forward to the three-peat next year.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2550, the Protect America's Workforce Act. Mr. Speaker, we all count on a Federal workforce that shows up every day to serve, not to bend to political pressure or wonder if speaking up will cost them their jobs. That is exactly the risk if collective bargaining rights are wiped out. It pushes aside a system that has been built over generations to protect workers, protect taxpayers, and keep politics out of public service. Taking away the voice of Federal workers doesn't make government stronger. It makes it easier for retaliation, harder for whistleblowers, and worse for the people who we represent. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do right by the people who serve our country every day by restoring basic fairness and bringing us back to a system that has worked under both parties for decades.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, winter is here, and families across the St. Louis region and the country are opening their utility bills with a knot in their stomachs. Right now, reckless tariff policies and economic uncertainty out of the White House are driving up costs across the country and squeezing working people who are already stretched thin with higher prices at the grocery store, higher rent, and stagnant wages. That is why, now more than ever, programs like the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, are so critical. Yet earlier this year, the Trump administration wanted to eliminate LIHEAP, a program that supports over 200,000 people in my home State of Missouri. We should be focused on lowering costs and strengthening essential programs, not cutting critical, lifesaving programs that people rely on to stay warm in the winter. Heating a home is not a luxury, and families in St. Louis should not be left out in the cold.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I was absent during the time of votes today due to minor health concerns. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 306 and YEA on Roll Call No. 307.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, the State legislature may have forced through their partisan map, but in Missouri, the final word belongs to the people. Our constitution gives Missourians the right to check the politicians through the petition process. No one asked for this map. Communities didn't demand it. Voters didn't vote for it. It was written to serve the administration, not Missouri. When politicians get it wrong, citizens have the chance to make it right. That is why the petition process is so important. It is a chance for Missourians across the State--urban, rural, north, south, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian--to come together and say our voices matter, our votes matter, and we will decide what representation looks like. This is bigger than party politics. It is about who holds the power in our democracy. I believe the power is in the people of Missouri-- more specifically, in the pen and signatures of the people of Missouri as we petition to save our democracy.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I come from Missouri, and the people I represent have serious concerns. They are worried about paying for healthcare. They are worried about the cost of food and affordable housing or raising families with some measure of security. What they are not worried about is a mid-decade power grab in Jefferson City, but that is exactly what is happening. This isn't about fair representation. It is about politicians trying to lock in their power by carving up Kansas City and silencing voices they do not want to hear. These include voices like Congressman Cleaver, a man of integrity, who has served this Chamber, our State, and our country with dignity and distinction for decades. No one asked for this, not the stakeholders, not the business community, and, most importantly, not the people of Missouri. Let's not mince words. This is cheating. It is cowardice. If we allow it, we are telling Missourians that their voices don't matter. Our democracy doesn't belong to partisan mapmakers. It belongs to the people.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. BELL. Mr. Chair, we must continue to stand with our Baltic allies who remain on the front lines of Russian aggression. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are strong democratic partners that contribute significantly to NATO's collective defense. What we saw last night is a reminder of why this amendment is critical. Vladimir Putin's aggression will not end with Ukraine. His goal is to reassert control over the former Soviet sphere, including NATO allies like the Baltic States. Yet, what is concerning is the current administration has already announced plans to suspend key European security programs, including the Baltic Security Initiative. This is not peace through strength. It is weakness that plays directly into Putin's hands. Turning our backs on NATO allies would embolden dictators and further undermine American credibility. Walking away would send a dangerous signal to Putin and Xi Jinping. We cannot strip away resources from allies confronting Russian aggression or leave a vacuum for our enemies to exploit. Instead, we must reaffirm our commitment, strengthen our alliances, and provide the tools our partners need to deter aggression and defend democracy. I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan amendment. I am proud to stand with our Baltic allies and with Ukraine in the fight for freedom and global democracy. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BELL. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered to be the first sponsor of H.R. 2181, the Protect Our Watchdogs Act of 2025, a bill originally introduced by Representative Gerald Connolly of Virginia, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating several remarkable Girl Scouts from Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri for demonstrating extraordinary leadership, refreshing creativity, and a commitment to making a lasting impact by earning the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award. Gold Award Girl Scouts are trailblazers who address the most pressing issues facing their communities and the world with measurable, sustainable, and far-reaching results. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, high school-age Girl Scouts identify and investigate an issue they care about, devise a plan, and then lead a team of experts and community members to implement a project that produces lasting change. Over the course of 1 to 2 years, Gold Award Girl Scouts demonstrate significant initiative, commitment, and leadership, distinguishing them from their peers. Through their resourcefulness and perseverance, they embody the Girl Scout Law to truly make the world a better place. I congratulate and include in the Record the following outstanding young women: Elizabeth Babcock, Troop 3230 Krystina Bell, Juliette Haley Brieler, Troop 3281 Gracyn Burke, Troop 3778 Sophia Byrne, Troop 1964 Grace Doherty, Juliette Kaitlyn Emerson, Juliette Emily Etter, Troop 204 Grace Fadlovich, Troop 4404 Meghana Hebbar, Juliette Lillian Henroid, Troop 3281 Lydia Hines, Troop 3534 True Howard, Troop 3565 Paige Jackson, Juliette Claire Krob, Troop 705 Ketki Naik, Troop 115 Elizabeth New, Troop 1166 Reagan Redmon, Troop 766 Udipti Sinha, Troop 1492 Caroline Smith, Juliette Haley Spirz, Troop 1751 Elyse Townsend, Troop 1331 Amber Tyson, Troop 1922 Olivia Van Horn, Troop 224 Chloe Vargo, Troop 1166 On behalf of the 1st Congressional District of Missouri, I congratulate them on their achievement of the highest distinction in Girl Scouts, the Gold Award. I thank them all for their leadership and for making such a positive, lasting change in our community.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor and remember the Honorable William Lacy Clay, Sr. ``We have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests.'' Our country lost a trailblazer. Congressman Clay passed away after a lifetime of service that reshaped St. Louis and our Nation. Already a civil rights icon before he was elected, he didn't come to Washington to play politics. He came to fight for working people, Black families, union members, and those too often left out and unheard. He carried their voices into this chamber and made sure they echoed. Bill Clay was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. I--and so many others--would not be here without the doors he opened and the example he set. I'm holding his son, my friend and predecessor Lacy Clay, the entire Clay family, and the St. Louis community in my prayers.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, today our country lost a true trailblazer. Congressman William Clay passed away after a lifetime of service that reshaped St. Louis and our Nation. Already a civil rights icon before he was elected, he didn't come to Washington to play politics. He came to fight for working people, Black families, union members, and those too often left out and unheard. He carried their voices into this Chamber and made sure they echoed. Bill Clay was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. I and so many others would not be here without the doors he opened and the example he set. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I hold his son, my friend and predecessor, Lacy Clay; the entire Clay family; and the St. Louis community in my prayers. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself, the entire CBC, which he helped found, and the Missouri delegation, I ask for a moment of silence in memory of the Honorable William Lacy Clay, Sr.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, let's be honest about what this is. The administration didn't try to cut PBS and NPR because of the budget. They went after them because public media doesn't play along with the never-ending lies. PBS and NPR tell the truth, and for some people that is threatening. A free press isn't supposed to flatter those in charge. Trust me, I know. It is supposed to challenge them. That is what makes democracy possible. The cowardice it takes to go along with these cuts is shameful. The President said it himself. He demanded Republicans defund NPR and PBS because they dared to fact check him. Now my colleagues are falling in line, even though they know their communities depend on these stations for everything from weather alerts to kids' programming. That is not strength. That is fear. In St. Louis and across the country, folks rely on public media. We should be investing in that, not gutting it. P.S.: Release the Epstein files.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to amend the rule to make in order the amendment at the desk that protects against any cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Juneteenth. Why celebrate Juneteenth? Some would argue it's not the exact historical point when slavery ended . . . But I'll tell you why I do and will continue to--because it is past time we begin confronting the real history of this country. Confronting it and addressing it all as it is--the good, bad and ugly. Confronting it because despite that sometimes ugly and sordid history--it is a country that still we love. It is our country. Black folks bled and died in every war this country has ever fought. And speaking to freedom, there are black and white folks who sacrificed their lives so that we could occupy these spaces and have the opportunities they did not. It is an honor for me and should be for all Americans to celebrate this holiday.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, if anyone stood outside the St. Louis Job Corps Center last week, they saw what happens when cruelty becomes policy. They saw students being escorted off campus, bags in hand, dreams on hold; grandparents crying because their grandkids had finally found something that gave them a shot, and now it is gone. In St. Louis, that was over 200 students who were impacted. Job Corps is exactly the kind of program everyone should all agree on. It gives young people the tools to succeed, real skills, real credentials, real jobs. It reduces crime, increases employment, and pays off for taxpayers in the long run. This wasn't a budget choice. This was a values choice. It tells our young people their future doesn't matter, not if they are working class, not if they are Black or Brown, not if they come from a ZIP Code that doesn't matter. I rise today because Job Corps works. It changes lives, and there is no defense, none at all, for ripping that away from students.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, this weekend, a catastrophic tornado struck the heart of St. Louis, killing five of our neighbors, injuring dozens more, and causing more than $1.6 billion in projected damage. Over 5,000 buildings were hit, power lines are down, critical infrastructure remains unstable, and entire neighborhoods are waking up to devastation. Even in the middle of all that loss, St. Louis showed out. St. Louis showed up and showed what it is made of. Neighbors checked on neighbors. Teachers sheltered students. First responders put themselves in harm's way to keep others safe, and I thank them all. This is not just a Democratic or a Republican issue. This is an all- of-the-above issue. From the Governor, the mayor, municipal mayors, the county executives, State representatives and senators, city alderpersons, county leaders, and especially regular citizens who have been working so hard for their community, I acknowledge these leaders. Right now, thousands are still without power. Schools are closed, and families are grieving. Faith without works is dead, and we need the prayers of our constituents. It will take a lot of work. I urge FEMA and the administration to work quickly. St. Louis can and will rebuild, but we cannot be left to do it alone. We have been through a lot. Working together, we are going to get through this, too.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, May 16, deadly tornadoes ripped across the heart of our country, leaving a path of destruction through Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Virginia. Dozens of lives were lost. Families were shattered, and entire neighborhoods were reduced to debris. In Missouri, we are grieving. We know families in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, and Virginia are, as well, facing unimaginable loss and the hard days ahead. Families who just days ago were living their everyday lives are now grieving loved ones, searching for the missing, and trying to put the pieces back together. In times like these, we must set aside our divisions. We remember our shared humanity, and we stand with our neighbors, no matter the distance between us. Mr. Speaker, for those we have lost, those still fighting to recover, and the families forever changed by this tragedy, I ask my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life, service, and unwavering commitment of Ms. Martha Jane West--a proud educator, community advocate, and lifelong champion for equity and justice--who passed peacefully on Sunday, March 30, 2025, surrounded by her loving family in Mississippi, following a lengthy illness. Born in Dyer, Tennessee, Ms. West charted a path of purpose early in life. She earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Tennessee State University in 1953, a proud alumna who remained deeply involved with her alma mater throughout her life. Each summer during her college years, she visited St. Louis with her cousin, forging a bond with the city that would eventually become her lifelong home. Following her graduation, Ms. West settled in St. Louis, living for more than three decades on the 5100 block of Greer Avenue in the Kingsway West neighborhood. Her commitment to education was unwavering. She began her career at the Nursery Foundation--the first integrated nursery school in St. Louis--before dedicating herself to the St. Louis County Special School District, where she served students with the highest needs for over 40 years before her retirement. Beyond the classroom, Ms. West gave tirelessly to her faith community at Lane Tabernacle Methodist Church, where she had been a devoted member since 1960. She shared her time, talent, and treasure as part of the Kitchen Committee and the Trustee Auxiliary Club, visiting the sick, supporting the elderly, feeding the hungry, and collecting clothing for those in need. Her sense of civic duty extended far beyond her church walls. She was deeply engaged in local politics and social justice. As a precinct captain in the former 20th Ward, she registered voters, attended the Democratic National Convention in the 1980's, and proudly cast her ballot for President Barack Obama in 2008. She was an active member of the NAACP, the Coalition of Black Trade Unions, the Organization for Black Struggle, and the Tennessee State University Alumni Association. Whether speaking out at St. Louis Public School board meetings or calling into the iconic Onion Horton radio show, Ms. West's voice was one of courage, conviction, and clarity. Ms. West never shied away from the front lines in the fight for justice. She was a visible force in demonstrations to protect and honor the legacy of Homer G. Phillips Hospital in the Ville neighborhood. She also knew how to celebrate her community--supporting local clubs and causes through galas, dances, and events. Among her proudest philanthropic efforts was serving as the number one booster for TSU during its annual alumni fundraiser dinner and dance. Ms. Martha Jane West was a woman of principle, purpose, and boundless compassion. Her legacy lives on in the countless students she nurtured, the communities she uplifted, and the lives she so profoundly impacted. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring the extraordinary life of Ms. Martha Jane West. May her service be remembered, her example be followed, and her family be comforted with the peace and pride of knowing her legacy will endure. '

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, another child in the St. Louis region is gone too early. Marshaun Futrell, Jr., was 11 years old. He was a football star, a big brother, and a son. Monday night this 11-year-old was yet another victim of senseless gun violence. Across the St. Louis region, 20 children have been shot since the beginning of 2025. This is not just a crisis, it is a collapse of our responsibility to protect our children. Gun violence is ripping through our neighborhoods, and if we truly believe in public safety, then we must start treating it like what it is: a public health emergency. That means commonsense gun reform, investments in trauma-informed care, and asking ourselves: How many more funerals before we decide enough is enough? To the families who have suffered the unspeakable tragedy of losing a loved one, I hear you, I see you, and I will not stop fighting for the change we are long overdue for.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, every day nearly half a million Americans sit in local jails without a conviction, overwhelmingly for nonviolent, low-level offenses. They are not there because they have been found guilty but because they can't afford bail or are stuck waiting for their day in court. While they wait, taxpayers pay the price. That is why I have introduced the Justice Forward Agenda, a target, results-driven plan to reduce crime and use taxpayer dollars more wisely. The Community First Pretrial Reform and Jail Decarceration Act helps local jurisdictions cut unnecessary pretrial detention and expand proven alternatives. The DART Act builds off my work as a St. Louis County prosecutor by giving law enforcement better tools like diversion programs and mental health courts to connect people with treatment, housing, and support that actually stops the cycle of incarceration. This isn't leniency. It is strategy. It is about investing in what works, in what has proven effective, and building safer, stronger communities. Mr. Speaker, let's move justice forward.

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today not just as a Member of Congress but as the son of a police officer and as someone who spent nearly two decades working in the justice system as a public defender, defense attorney, judge, and as a prosecutor. I know what it means to uphold the law, and I know what it looks like when the rule of law is under attack. This bill is not about judicial efficiency or fairness; it is about power, raw, political power. The people who once cheered nationwide injunctions when they served their agenda now want to eliminate them because judges had the audacity to hold this administration accountable. It is a direct assault on judicial independence and many of my Republican colleagues know it, but too many won't say it out loud for fear of political retribution or a primary financed by Elon Musk. This is not conservative, it is not constitutional, and history will remember. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. BELL

Mr. BELL. Mr. Speaker, I was absent during the time of votes due to travel and weather delays. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 84, H.R. 517, Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act; and YEA on Roll Call No. 85, H.R. 997, National Taxpayer Advocate Enhancement Act of 2025.