Janelle Bynum

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I am here today not just as the Representative for Oregon's Fifth Congressional District, but as a mom getting ready for the holidays. Let me tell you, Mr. Speaker, costs are out of control. Every time I go to make a purchase, these companies keep charging me fee after fee after fee. So whether it is booking travel for my son to come home for the holidays or buying tickets for my daughter as a Christmas gift, these fees are driving up the cost of everything. You get to the checkout page, and suddenly the price feels like it is 40 percent higher. There are payment processing fees for a flight, venue fees for a concert, airport concession fees for a rental car, or service charges on just about everything. I have had it with these junk fees, and I have heard from so many others that they have too. Americans deserve transparency, not bait-and-switch pricing models. That is why I introduced the Junk Fee Prevention Act. It is past time that we get corporate greed under control and protect American families. I am calling on the House to get it done for the holidays.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, this weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. At the time, that was a landmark piece of legislation that made sure our children with disabilities had what they needed to succeed in the classroom. The IDEA hasn't been fully funded for decades, meaning these kids aren't receiving all the support that they need. On top of that, President Trump is dismantling the Department of Education and threatening programs that protect civil rights and expand access to opportunity for our kids. I will not stand for that. Mr. Speaker, my North Star is America's children. That is why, earlier this Congress, I introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act to help our students with disabilities. I will continue fighting in Congress to ensure that our children and our children's children and our children's children's children have access to the education they deserve.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, the beginning of this month marked the start of open enrollment for healthcare. As Oregonians have started to select their plans, constituents of mine have been writing in. They are seeing plans that are hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more. Without subsidies, David from Bend's monthly health insurance costs will go from $50 to $600 or $700 a month, which would put healthcare out of reach for him. Annie, also from Bend, shared with me her costs could jump to almost $1,700 per month. There are countless more stories like these, Mr. Speaker, and that is unacceptable. No family should have to choose between getting the care they need and putting food on the table. Mr. Speaker, I will keep fighting to protect healthcare, lower costs, and make life easier for my constituents.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I just wrapped up the Give 'Em Hell Tour, 10 townhalls over the last 3 months from every corner of my district. We welcomed all Oregonians, and we were thankful to have community leaders participating and local law enforcement keeping us safe. From Bend to Portland, Silverton to Albany, over 42,000 people joined and made their voices heard. Mr. Speaker, the message was clear: Quit messing with our healthcare and start making life more affordable. Mr. Speaker, hear me when I say this: We will not back down--not on healthcare, not on costs, and not on making our voices heard. My message to my fellow Oregonians is: I hear you, and I got you. Even though the Give 'Em Hell Tour is over, there is always an open line of communication between you and me.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the impressive efforts of Kyla Guerrero, a constituent of mine from Bend, Oregon. Kyla has used her Gold Award Girl Scout project to tackle the issue of food waste, taking leftover food and repurposing it to sustain a local farm. I am truly impressed by her innovation and hard work. This creative compost system keeps our community eco-friendly and helps protect our planet for future generations. I thank and congratulate Kyla. I include in the Record this article from the Central Oregon Daily written by Jakob Salao that details Kyla's hard work: BEND, Ore.--More than one-third of all available food in the country goes to waste, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A Central Oregon Girl Scout is hoping to change that by taking that waste and using it to sustain a local farm. ``I've always had a passion for supporting environmental efforts and I feel like this was a way I could create a project that suits those passions,'' Girl Scout Kyla Guerrero said. ``And working with a local farm has been super fun.'' Guerrero is one of two local Girl Scouts working on a Gold Award Project. She's partnered with Around the Bend Farms to get youth involved and make farming a little more eco-friendly. ``We're creating this food scrap to compost system where the food scrap waste from the Bethlehem Inn kitchen gets delivered here and turned into compost which is used for the farm's agriculture,'' Guerrero said. Those food scraps contain vital nutrients for vegetables that would otherwise rot away in a landfill. ``By throwing those nutrients into a compost pile and into that kind of system, we can re-collect the nutrients and re-integrate it into our soil to rebuild that cycle,'' Urban Farm Manager Josh Lesko said. ``Then, our plants are just re-feeding themselves and feeding us more in the future.'' The compost system also helps keep the farm eco-friendly. ``We're lowering the amount of costs we're putting in,'' Lesko said. ``We're lowering the amount of transportation for things we need to pick up. We're letting the natural cycle do its thing and kind of working alongside it.'' But for Guerrero, it's starting to plant the seeds for the next generation. ``It's a great opportunity to have high school students come out and share this with their friends and be like `oh there's a farm here and we can all help together.' I really like that aspect of it,'' Guerrero said.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, today I am here to stand up for Oregon. Just before the weekend, the President spouted off some nonsense about deploying the National Guard to Portland. As we have seen in D.C., L.A., and now Boston, it is an unwelcome occupation. The President is wasting our troops' time and the country's money to play cops and robbers for his ego. Now, if he wants to send Federal resources to help our State, then how about he invests in our schools instead of cutting the Department of Education? How about he sends funding that we can use to provide high-quality childcare to every child and family, to build more affordable housing, and to clean up the Superfund site on the Willamette River? Mr. Speaker, if the President actually wants to help Oregonians, then he should focus on his failing economic policies that are hurting Americans and raising our costs. We got us.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, it is wildfire season in Oregon, and the Trump administration is making it harder for fire crews to do their jobs. I met with them, some of whom voted for the President. They told me that the funding cuts are a problem, and they don't have the resources they need. Now this administration is pulling people off the front lines of wildfires to conduct immigration enforcement? Give me a break. Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago, the Labor Day fires killed nine people and destroyed thousands of homes in Oregon. Central Oregon is currently fighting the Flat fire. Thanks to the hard work of our fire crews, it is now at 52 percent containment. Mr. Speaker, now is not the time to make life harder on our firefighters. This administration needs to stop the foolishness. I don't mess around with the safety of my constituents and neither should the President.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the impressive efforts of Clackamas Community College President Tim Cook, who ran more than 1,400 miles over 52 days to raise money and awareness for Oregon students. His journey, which started on the Oregon-Idaho border, visited each of the state's 17 community colleges. Averaging roughly a marathon a day. Tim worked to bring attention to the many challenges students face, including food insecurity, homelessness, and lack of childcare. I am truly impressed by Tim's work, dedication, and drive. I could not be prouder to represent the school he leads. I look forward to continuing to fight for strong education policies together. Way to go.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the recent marriage of Divjot Waraich and Amanjot Sidhu. Divjot, the son of Sarabjeet and Ravinder, and Amanjot, the daughter of Inderjit and Rupinder, cemented their bond on August 1, 2025. I rise to wish them both a lifetime of love, joy, and success together. I am so excited to see what the future brings the two of them. I congratulate Divjot and Amanjot.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I only have 1 minute today, but I wish I had 6 or 7 minutes. Wildfire season is upon us. Over the weekend, we saw the Cram fire in central Oregon grow to more than 95,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire of the year so far in the United States. I am grateful for the firefighters and local authorities who bravely responded and who are continuing to fight the flames. Thanks to them, the fire is now over 70 percent contained. Mr. Speaker, while Oregon firefighters are out, saving lives and homes, President Trump is freezing the funding they rely on. That is unacceptable. Whether it is for pushing out evacuation alerts or maintaining shelters, this funding is key to keeping our neighbors safe and prepared. That is why I can't stop, and I won't stop fighting to ensure our communities have the resources they need. I ask my constituents to please continue to follow the direction of local authorities. Have an evacuation plan. Prepare a go bag.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding efforts made by one of my own constituents, Ms. Abby Lachman. Ms. Lachman, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 6, recently visited Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of herself and the millions of Americans living with Type 1. I am impressed by her dedication to advocating for herself and her peers at such a young age and I am eager to see the changes she will make in the future. I am proud to represent you here in Congress Abby. I include in the Record the following article written by Noemi Arellano-Summer in the Bend Bulletin highlighting Abby's work. A Bend teenager who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 6 is going to Washington, D.C. to advocate for medical research and affordable insulin. Abby Lachman is traveling to D.C. Monday through 10 with Breakthrough T1D, an organization that supports those with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, so people with the disease must take insulin by injection or insulin pump to survive Abby, 15, will be a sophomore at Summit High in the fall. One of Abby's mentors with Breakthrough T1D encouraged her to apply to be part of the Children's Congress, an initiative the organization runs that sends more than 160 kids with Type 1 diabetes to the capitol every two years to advocate for research. She will be speaking with a senator and representatives to share her story. ``A lot of it, I think, is just to put a face to the number or the story,'' she said. ``Because we want to help increase funding or continue it, especially at a time when a lot of medical research is getting cut. . . I'm looking forward to all of it. Sometimes it feels surreal just thinking about it. This is such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I feel so blessed that I get to go and do this.'' Abby's been part of Zoom meetings with the team to talk through ideas for the trip and has put together a scrapbook of her journey with Type 1 diabetes, she said. She's had to manage her disease constantly for nearly a decade. ``For me, since I've had it for so long, it's pretty much my life, so I'm a lot more used to it. I have two devices, which are really helpful,'' she said. ``It's pretty much just constant regulation. It's like, where's my number at? Do I need to give a little insulin to help it bring down? Do I need to eat something to come up? It's just constantly doing little things, checking it, making sure you're where you need to be.'' When she was first diagnosed, Abby had to give herself injections, and didn't have the insulin pump, phone app and other devices she has now to help her monitor her blood sugar. ``I didn't have the easiest time with it, so if I get the chance to maybe help other kids not have that, it's really important to me,'' she said. ``I think that's a big part of what keeps me involved with this stuff.'' Last summer, Abby helped out at Camp Tamarack, during a week that is dedicated to kids with Type 1 diabetes. In the future, she said she wants to travel and see the world. Though there are two types of diabetes, they are fairly different, and Abby thinks that's part of the reason why Type 1 diabetics have a hard time being diagnosed. ``(Type 1 diabetes) is definitely a hard disease to see, and it is common. A lot of people have it, which is why it's so weird that it's almost unheard of at times,'' she said. ``Diagnosis is not easy for a lot of kids. My time with diagnosis was easy. My mom's a doctor, so we caught it super easy, which was very lucky. Kids that don't have that same chance--I knew a kid who didn't know, his parents had no idea it could be a possibility and he got super sick. When he woke up in the morning, he had to get evac'd out and had brain damage. He had to learn how to walk again. It's just so hard. It really needs both that work towards a cure and showing that this is something out there that people struggle with.''

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, it has been 6 months since I was sworn in to serve Oregon's Fifth Congressional District. Since then, we have seen the programs we rely on cut, costs rise, and the needs of the American people ignored. That is why I always encourage Oregonians to call my office and make their voices heard. I have heard from over 50,000 Oregonians, taken over 120 constituent meetings, and held 10 townhalls, including 6 as part of my ``Give `em Hell'' tour. The stories I hear help me elevate the issues in our district and fight back, including with these floor speeches, or as I call them, protest speeches. Today is my 22nd one where I have shared constituent stories to help defend SNAP, Social Security, Medicare, and more, and call out my Republican colleagues. I hope Oregonians will keep sharing their stories with me, and I will keep amplifying them. We have to keep the pressure on my Republican colleagues and President Trump by winning in the court of public opinion.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. 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.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow marks 3 years since the Supreme Court voted to strip women of their reproductive healthcare rights, overturning 50 years of legal precedent. I am talking about the Dobbs decision. I rise today because that devastating decision has put the health of women nationwide at risk. Since then, States have issued extreme restrictions on abortion, forcing thousands of women to travel or risk prosecution to access basic healthcare. Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. As a mother to two daughters, hear me when I say it: Decisions regarding reproductive healthcare should not be in the hands of politicians and lawmakers. We must protect and expand reproductive freedom for women everywhere. Mr. Speaker, it is time to end the damage of the Dobbs decision and restore a woman's right to choose.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the President's trash bill is out here cutting funding for a program that supports low-income kids and families, supports our seniors, and supports those without housing. I rise today because those cuts will leave people in my district hungry. I rise today because that is unacceptable. I am talking about SNAP. SNAP provides children and families in my district and across this country with the help they need to put food on the table. It reduces food insecurity, and it boosts our local economies. Our communities can't afford cuts to these benefits. It is a vital lifeline for my constituents. Over 733,000 Oregonians used SNAP benefits last year, and that is over one in six residents in the State. It is unconscionable to give $2 trillion in tax breaks to the ultra- wealthy by defunding this food assistance American families depend on. Mr. Speaker, we can do better.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I got this message from an Oregonian named Donna. She says: ``Please fight to protect Federal employee retirement benefits. They should not be slashed. Federal employees are currently putting up with so much to keep this country running. ``Immediately reducing our pay and benefits on top of everything else is a kick in the teeth. It is also a bait and switch. It should not be legal. I was promised certain benefits when I started, and they should not be taken away from me when I am less than 2 years from retirement. ``Who is going to run the government? You know, provide services that keep the planes in the sky, the power flowing, the food safe, and warn of pending major life-threatening events, events like hurricanes and infectious diseases? Who will want to work for the American people after this latest attack? Stop abusing us.'' Mr. Speaker, I challenge you to explain these cuts to Donna.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, this is Rose. She is 7 years old and in the first grade, and she makes friends everywhere she goes. Rose was diagnosed with an ultra-rare genetic syndrome when she was just 3\1/2\. She now uses a feeding tube and a wheelchair. Medicaid allows Rose to receive physical therapy. Thanks to this therapy, she is starting to take steps. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleagues are working overtime to take Rose's healthcare away. It might be easy for people to strike through one number and write in another, take a little bit from here and there, but each of those numbers represents a person, a child like Rose, who will lose critical care so billionaires can have more money in their pockets. We cannot let them steal from our kids and our families. We will not.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding efforts made by one of my own constituents, Mr. Bob Sanders. Mr. Sanders' feat of cycling across the continental United States at the age of 85 is a true accomplishment. I include in the Record the following article, written by Peyton Thomas in the Central Oregon Daily, highlighting the 44-day journey. 85-Year-Old Bend Man Bikes Across America, Eyes World Record (Peyton Thomas, Reporter) Bend, Ore.--After 44 days, thousands of miles and every imaginable type of road, Bob Sanders is back home in Bend. The 85-year-old just finished biking across the country, becoming the oldest man to complete the feat from coast to coast. Sanders started in San Diego and wrapped up his ride in St. Augustine, Florida, relying on sheer determination and a couple of close companions to get there. ``Jack, and then Kathryn. It couldn't have been done without,'' Sanders said. His longtime friend Jack Hoker served as his support driver for nearly a month, following Bob's every move across the U S ``He said, `Jack, I'm thinking about biking across the United States. Would you be interested in being my support vehicle?' '' Hoker recalled. ``I thought it over and got back to him and said, `Yeah, I'll do it.' '' The ride wasn't just about miles. It became a journey of connection with the country and its people. ``I have a good feeling about America now because people were so kind and helpful and friendly,'' said Bob's wife, Kathryn Sanders. ``The very best thing about it is to realize Americans and America is still one country,'' Bob added. ``We all still love our country without a doubt.'' Sanders is now preparing to submit all the necessary evidence to the Guinness Book of World Records, including GPS data, photos, and witness accounts, in hopes of officially claiming the title as the oldest man to bike across America. ``He has determination. He has grit,'' said Kathryn. ``And I think he could show a lot of people what you can do with that.'' Still, when asked if he'd do it again? ``I'm glad I did it,'' Sanders said ``But I'll tell you one thing without hesitation--I wouldn't do it again.''

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the President is out here in these streets cutting funding for programs that support a lot of things Americans care about: Survivors of sexual assault, programs that offer mental health care for police officers and keep hotlines to victims of crime open, programs that assist law enforcement in rural communities, provide guidance on finding safe housing, and offer care and counseling for children facing abuse. Mr. Speaker, local organizations have been sounding the alarm of what these cuts would mean for our communities, and today I am joining them. In some situations, these services are make or break, and we just can't let our communities and our neighbors down. Mr. Speaker, this week is Police Week, and if the President is truly supportive of safer communities, he should quit cutting funding for programs that work to keep them that way.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, today is the 122nd day of the 119th Congress. It has been 122 days since I began the fight in Congress for lower costs, more jobs, and a better quality of life for Oregonians. Unfortunately, I have yet to have the opportunity to vote on a single meaningful bill that would help achieve those goals. Grocery prices are still increasing, housing isn't getting more affordable, and it is getting harder for families to make ends meet. Yet, we are voting this week on the Gulf of America Act, a bill that does nothing to lower costs. It has been the same story week after week. That is why I led my freshman colleagues in telling Speaker Johnson that we are fed up and that it is time to work on costs. I will keep sounding the alarm until we start helping the American people. Mr. Speaker, it is time for us to get serious.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to stand up for my constituents who rely on Social Security and Medicare. Nearly 1 million Oregonians collect Social Security, and almost 20 percent of the State's population receives Medicare. These critical programs are under attack, and Americans are scared. I spent the last 2 weeks talking with people in my district, and I have heard their concerns. Seniors are facing unprecedented delays in getting benefits they rely on, and it makes it hard for them to pay their expenses. They don't know if this administration is going to pull the rug out from underneath them and leave them without the benefits they have earned. These benefits are not a Ponzi scheme. These benefits are not government handouts. They are earned benefits for American citizens. Mr. Speaker, it is time to stand up for Americans and protect these programs with our lives and our votes.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, my constituents are struggling with high costs and inflation, and more and more families are living paycheck to paycheck, and still the supporters of this bill are trying to increase their fees? I can't and I won't get behind that. It is out of touch. Not only is that hurting our families, but it is also unfairly penalizing our kids, who are trying to learn financial responsibility. My son recently got a debit card. He is 14, and he uses it for small stuff and things like buying PlayStation skins, Fortnite skins, whatever kids buy. If he accidentally spends more than he has, $35, in my opinion, is too high of a penalty. The average American kid would have to work 5 hours at the Federal minimum wage to get that back. I think that is crazy. Every American should have the opportunity to participate in our economy and not be on their knees when they do. I strongly oppose this resolution, and I support the rule to cap overdraft fees at $5.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, this administration is taking money out of people's pockets and robbing the middle class of their earnings, and I am fighting back. I am fighting for the food bank in Redmond that can't offer meat in its meals because of funding cuts. I am fighting for the seniors across my district that are watching their life savings evaporate in the stock market. I am fighting for retirees taking required distributions from the their IRAs at a loss because Trump's tariff policies that are tanking the market. I am fighting for the parents who can't afford clothes for their kids, for the families who can't afford groceries, and for the young people who can't afford to buy a car or a home. This foolishness can't continue, Mr. Speaker. Costs are skyrocketing. The stock market is in free fall. We are headed toward a recession. I call on Congress to pass my Protecting Families From Inflation Act and to vote to put an end to this ill-advised trade war. The American people can't wait.

Ms. BYNUM

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, every day I hear from my constituents that they are struggling to afford groceries, rent, healthcare, and other necessities. That is why lowering costs has always been priority one for me. However, it doesn't seem to be a priority for this administration and some of my colleagues, and they know who they are. Despite President Trump's pledging to end inflation on day one, costs have continued to increase, and his tariffs policy is making things worse. It is crashing the stock market in the process. His policy is essentially adding a massive tax to everyday items for families. I find it unconscionable and, frankly, unacceptable that anyone would make things more expensive right now, and I won't stand by, and I won't let it happen. That is why I am fighting back. I am fighting back with the Protecting Families From Inflation Act. It is my very first bill. It makes progress on my top priority, lowering costs for my constituents. I am calling right now for the House to show they are serious about lowering costs and taking up and passing this legislation.

Ms. BYNUM. Mr. Speaker, what decorum did I break? I apologize.