Judy Chu

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Sue Bauer, who tragically passed away on March 22, 2026. Ms, Bauer dedicated her life to public service. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of all whose lives she's changed and in the generations of leaders she fostered over her decades of work in Glendora and across the San Gabriel Valley. In 1994, Ms. Bauer became Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Glendora. Three years later, she became the second female mayor since the city's founding in 1887, serving her city with compassion and integrity. As mayor, Ms. Bauer responded to the growing need for additional recreation programs for youth by establishing the Mayor's Youth Task Force. She researched gaps in existing services, created a master plan for Glendora's families and youth, and secured voter approval for $ 1.4 million in funding to build the Timothy Crowther Teen & Family Center at Dawson Park, a site that has continued to grow over the years. Ms. Bauer played an essential role in strengthening Glendora's finances and overseeing the development of the Glendora Marketplace, now home to several businesses and retailers. Because of Ms. Bauer, the Marketplace has become a cornerstone of the Glendora community, generating millions of dollars annually for the city. Ms. Bauer also served on many boards and commissions, continuing her involvement by serving as Chairperson of the Glendora Planning Commission, Glendora Delegate to the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, and Regional Council Member for District 33 of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). Her leadership demonstrated a lifetime dedicated to public service and her deep love of Glendora. A champion of women's rights, Ms. Bauer served as president of the Glendora League of Women Voters and was a longtime member of the Glendora Women's Club, where she also served as president. As a member of the Glendora Historical Society and the Friends of the Library, Ms. Bauer recognized the importance of learning and the arts to her community. Ms. Bauer was born in Alaska and moved along the West Coast throughout her childhood because of her father's career with the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA). She moved to Glendora in the late 1950s and graduated in 1961 from the newly built Glendora High School, becoming part of its first class to attend all four years. She later attended and graduated from Citrus College and the University of Southern California (USC). Sue Bauer's resilience, humility, and unwavering commitment to public service inspired everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating her life and recognizing her incredible legacy.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and commend the distinguished Foothill Family organization on their 100th Anniversary. Founded in 1926, Foothill Family traces its roots to Pasadena as a small group of women supporting young mothers. The organization has since grown into a community-centered care provider with centers across the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. Today, Foothill Family serves more than 25,000 members of our community each year through early childhood development programs, school-based therapy, and family support services. Foothill Family's mission is driven by the belief that the strength and resilience of families form the backbone of our vibrant communities. Foothill Family is a pillar of our community, providing early development and intervention services to children and their families. Through their Early Head Start program, parents and caregivers receive comprehensive assistance, such as early childhood education and mental and physical health support at no charge. As part of their Early STEPS program, Foothill Family provides crucial early intervention care for young children at risk of developmental delays, specializing in developmental screenings, psychological testing, and education opportunities to ensure that every child has the support they need to thrive. Beyond childhood intervention programs, Foothill Family specializes in mental health care at the community level. The holistic services are targeted toward members of our community of every age, assisting children, teens, and adults navigate their unique circumstances and complex challenges. For a century, Foothill Family has worked to ensure that every member of our community has the safety, stability, and opportunities for long-term success that they deserve. When the Eaton Fire devastated our community in January 2025, Foothill Family responded immediately with crisis therapy, emotional support, and essential resources. While immediate relief is critical in the aftermath of a disaster, healing continues long afterward. That's why their creation of the Eaton Bloom program has been essential to support families as they navigate the ongoing emotional impact of the Eaton Fire. Through sustained access to therapy, school-based mental health services, and community support, Foothill Family helps ensure that our neighbors affected are not left to recover alone. The 100th anniversary of Foothill Family is an incredible milestone, and I am proud to honor the legacy of this organization and their impact in San Gabriel Valley and beyond. Because of their services, members of our community have been given the tools they need to heal, grow, and thrive.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Caron Nunez, who is retiring as the President of Lincoln Training Center in California. The Lincoln Training Center (LTC) is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating successful employment partnerships between businesses and individuals with moderate to severe disabilities. Founded in 1964, the LTC traces its roots from a small group of parents providing their children with basic production training in Lincoln, California to an accredited, award-winning organization with satellite offices throughout Northern, Central, and Southern California. For 35 years, Ms. Nunez has served as President of the LTC, leading the organization in fulfilling its core mission: transforming disabilities and disadvantages into opportunities for employment, independence, and community participation. With her efforts, the LTC supports hundreds of adults with disabilities and service-disabled Veterans across California in securing meaningful employment. Under Ms. Nunez's leadership, the LTC experienced remarkable growth. Ms. Nunez helped create employment opportunities for more than 600 adults with disabilities throughout California and has expanded the Supported Employment program to include partnerships with over 100 businesses. She was also instrumental in developing job training initiatives within the LTC's Production Services department, where participants gain hands-on experience through subcontract work such as assembly, packaging, shrink-wrapping, labeling, and heat sealing. In addition, she oversaw the development of one of the LTC's newest programs, which provides employment opportunities specifically for service-disabled Veterans. Ms. Nunez's record of service has touched every corner of California, especially my district in the San Gabriel Valley. That is why in 2010, I was proud to honor Ms. Nunez and the LTC as my DiverCities Non-Profit of the Year. The LTC was recognized for fostering an inclusive community where individuals of all abilities can live and work side by side while gaining a deeper understanding of one another's experiences and cultures. Ms, Nunez's legacy will live on in the hundreds of individuals with disabilities whose lives she transformed, offering not just training and employment, but dignity, independence, and a renewed sense of purpose. I congratulate her on a well-earned retirement and thank her for her decades of service in my district and beyond.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, for yet another week, Republicans have brought us legislation that does absolutely nothing to lower the cost of groceries, housing, or healthcare. Instead, they want another $140 billion to expand their lawless deportation machine. Not one penny will make life more affordable for people. In fact, this bill fails to implement the most basic commonsense reforms to ICE and CBP. Trump's immigration agents have ripped hundreds of thousands of people from their families, jobs, and communities. Nearly 60,000 people are trapped in ICE detention, almost half with no criminal record, and 48 people have died in ICE custody. Their anti-immigrant agenda is killing people--people like my constituent, Carlos Montoya, a 52-year-old father and grandfather. When ICE agents raided a Home Depot just minutes from my district, Carlos was so frightened that he fled and was tragically struck and killed by a car on the freeway. This administration is instilling so much terror that people are willing to risk their lives to escape. Republicans' big, ugly bill already handed ICE $170 billion, and now they want another $140 billion to keep kidnapping children, tackling grandmothers to the ground, raiding car washes, and shooting innocent people. Yet, somehow they keep insisting that there is no money for healthcare, food assistance, or housing. Vote ``no'' on this bill.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, on this tax day, working families are not feeling the relief they were promised. They are struggling to pay rent, to get the healthcare they need, and to fill up the car with gas. Here is why. Last year, Republicans passed their big, ugly bill, the single largest transfer of wealth from the poorest Americans to the richest in history. This reverse Robin Hood fails to make life more affordable for working families. Because this legislation has become so resented by the American people, Republicans chose to put forward this meaningless resolution that is an empty rebranding exercise. Here is what they are trying to hide. Under their big, ugly bill, the top 0.1 percent of earners, who make about $11 million a year, receive an average tax cut of $244,000 each. Compare that to what 40 million of the lowest income households receive, just $10 a year, not even enough for a meal. This resolution even dares to say that their big, ugly law helped to control healthcare costs. In reality, this bill kicks 15 million people off their health insurance, off their Medicaid, and off their Affordable Care Act insurance. This is the largest takeaway of healthcare in history. When Republicans say this is about helping working families, we must ask: Which families? The data clearly shows that this law greatly benefits those least in need while offering only minimal, symbolic relief to those who are struggling the most. On tax day, Republicans are spending time patting themselves on the back for one of the most regressive and hurtful tax bills in modern history, completely ignoring the real crises facing millions of Americans.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, for the past year, Republicans have done nothing to address rising grocery prices, rising energy prices, and rising healthcare prices. What is the one thing they are willing to do? Making tasers more accessible to dangerous people. It is unbelievable. On January 21, 2023, my hometown of Monterey Park, California, suffered a mass shooting that killed 11 of our neighbors. It remains the deadliest mass shooting in Los Angeles County's history. Monterey Park, and every community across this country, deserves to be safe from violence, whether from guns, tasers, or anything else, but Republicans are working to make our communities less safe by handing over access of weapons to individuals we know should not have them and making them far harder for law enforcement to track. We should be focused on keeping our communities safe, not voting to flood our streets with even more weapons.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise to include in the Record the following proclamation recognizing the distinguished San Marino City Club on their 100th Anniversary: Whereas, in 1926, the San Marino City Club was founded with the mission to secure the residents of the San Marino Unified School District the best civic, educational, and cultural services and facilities; and Whereas, for a century, the San Marino City Club has promoted the belief that higher education holds an important role in shaping the future of our country and therefore must support the intellectual and ethical foundations that our democracy depends on; and Whereas, the San Marino City Club encourages the highest standards of citizenship by sponsoring public forums and debates before city-wide elections, including city council, school board, and local bond- financing elections. They also offer regular monthly dinner meetings for members to connect with distinguished speakers to discuss local, regional and national topics; and Whereas, each year, the San Marino City Club awards financial support to selected community projects. From donating to the San Marino High School Girls and Boys Athletics to the San Marino Public Library, their funding allows our local schools, civic support groups, and local charitable organizations to thrive and prosper; and Whereas, as one of the leading civic organizations in San Marino, their membership includes distinguished members of the community, including present and past city council members, school board members. and local business owner; and Whereas, the 100th anniversary of the San Marino City Club is a moment to honor the legacy and achievements of the organization and its members, and its ability to foster a stronger, more vibrant San Marino by providing services that enrich the lives of our community and embrace civic and cultural traditions; and Now, therefore, be it resolved that I, Congresswoman Judy Chu, representing California's 28th Congressional District, do hereby recognize and commend the San Marino City Club on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary, and extend sincere appreciation for their enduring contributions to the people of San Marino and beyond.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, right now, millions of Americans are struggling to afford healthcare. Millions of new and expecting mothers are seeing their premiums skyrocket and they are being forced to go without health insurance. Across this country, countless women are being forced to flee their States for lifesaving abortion care while too many others have suffered or died waiting for care that should never have been denied. Mr. Speaker, the legislation this body is considering today does nothing to address these real crises. Instead, it diverts scarce Federal antipoverty dollars, TANF dollars, away from struggling families and toward so-called crisis pregnancy centers that exist to shame, mislead, and delay women from accessing abortion care. This bill does nothing to lower healthcare costs. It does nothing to help families afford prenatal care, childbirth, or postpartum care. It does nothing to address the deadly consequences of extreme Republican abortion bans that are forcing women to delay care and risk their lives. Mr. Speaker, if we defeat the previous question on this rule, my Democratic colleagues and I will offer my bill, the Women's Health Protection Act, or WHPA. WHPA is the Federal solution to the extremist Supreme Court's decision to strike down Roe v. Wade. It would restore the right for everyone, no matter what State they live in, no matter their ZIP Code, to receive abortion care. In a world where doctors are being threatened with prison time for doing their jobs, it would protect providers who are simply trying to save lives. This is the legislation this body should be considering today. I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so we can bring up this important legislation.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as families across the country are being crushed by rising costs and stripped of their healthcare, it is shameful that Republicans have chosen to bring a bill to the floor that does nothing to address these crises for pregnant women and families. Instead, the bill before us today would allow Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, dollars to be used to fund so-called crisis pregnancy centers that have a proven track record of intentionally lying to, misleading, and endangering women. It is no coincidence that this bill is being rushed to the floor this week as Republicans once again prioritize appeasing a national anti- abortion group in town for its annual rally instead of addressing the real crises facing American families. I want to paint a picture as to what happens to a young woman who suspects that she may be pregnant. She has a mix of emotions. She may have overwhelming fear and anxiety, especially if she has few resources. She goes to what she thinks is a medical center or clinic, and it is called a pregnancy center of some sort. When she gets there, she is greeted so warmly with open arms. There are people in white coats, who she assumes are medical professionals. They tell her she can get so many things for free: pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, pregnancy counseling, and, after the birth, even free diapers and formula. It all sounds so wonderful to this woman that she says sign me up. They don't tell this woman that, in order to get these free services, she has to first sit through an ideological or religious indoctrination session in which all the reasons not to have an abortion are given. They don't tell her that the person administering the ultrasound has no medical credentials, that, in fact, this is not an official ultrasound, and that she could be misdiagnosed. They don't tell her that half of the personnel in the so-called clinic have no medical credentials at all and, therefore, are not equipped to advise on any medical complications, such as an ectopic pregnancy. They don't tell her that this is not a medical clinic at all. In fact, because it is not, this woman's privacy is not protected, and her information could be shared with the public. The real world of the crisis pregnancy centers is exemplified by an OB/GYN in Iowa, who has seen patients who visited these centers and were told that using contraceptives was the same as having an abortion. She has seen patients who suffered miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies because they were misdiagnosed by these anti-abortion centers. These women were told that their pregnancies were in the early stages or that they were experiencing normal amounts of pain because the staff members they saw were not actual, qualified medical professionals. As a result, these women ended up in the hospital, needing emergency care and surgery to save their lives. In Illinois, a woman seeking an abortion was deliberately misled by a fake clinic. She was subjected to graphic videos and told that having an abortion would make her infertile and, ultimately, mentally ill. Ultimately, she was coerced into carrying a pregnancy to term. After giving birth, she lost her job and health coverage, and the so-called clinic never offered real medical care or follow-up support. This is why the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have raised serious ethical and medical concerns about these clinics. Now, Republicans want to guarantee that taxpayer dollars through these TANF funds will fund these centers and that there will be no accountability for these dollars. Let's first be clear about what TANF is actually supposed to be for. TANF exists to help families experiencing poverty meet their most basic needs and stabilize their lives so parents can work and children can thrive. TANF was never intended to subsidize anti-abortion propaganda or unregulated sham clinics that endanger women's health. Yet, that is exactly what this bill does. Not only that, it goes beyond the regular TANF program, which requires reporting and accountability. Actually, this bill says that nothing shall be construed to restrict TANF funding for these centers, meaning that funding could not be taken away from them even if the center engages in deceptive practices or even causes a woman's death. When the Ways and Means Committee marked up this bill last week, Democrats offered commonsense amendments that should have been uncontroversial to anyone who cares about women and families. We simply proposed that TANF funds not go to pregnancy centers that have engaged in deceptive or misleading practices that provide medically inaccurate information or that have endangered the health of a woman seeking care. We also offered amendments to address the real crisis affecting the TANF program, which is the Trump administration's decision to seek revenge against five Democratic Governors by preventing them from accessing $10 billion in already appropriated funds for TANF and childcare. Republicans rejected every one of these amendments. Clearly, this bill is not about supporting pregnant women and families. It is about shielding deceptive actors, supporting Trump's revenge tactics, and using public funds to advance an extreme anti- abortion agenda. If Republicans truly cared about pregnant women and families, we would be debating how to undo their $1 trillion cut to Medicaid, which rips healthcare away from millions of pregnant women, new mothers, and children, and how to help the millions of women seeing their health insurance premiums skyrocket due to months of Republican inaction. Instead, this bill is merely an attempt to distract from these devastating realities with the ultimate goal of appeasing the anti- abortion advocates parading around Washington this week as countless women suffer and die under extreme Republican abortion bans. Their priorities are clear and profoundly misguided. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that the previous speaker said that these clinics have trained staff, but many of these centers pose as clinics, offer incorrect medical advice, and even go so far as to wear scrubs and white coats to appear as though they are trained. Actually, fewer than half of crisis pregnancy centers have a licensed medical professional on staff. Mr. Speaker, 95 percent do not provide prenatal care, and only 1 out of 607 provides contraception, and the facilities are unregulated. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I wish the previous speaker could have met this Massachusetts woman who sought care at a crisis pregnancy center after a Google advertisement led her to believe it was a legitimate medical facility where she could confirm her pregnancy. At Clear Way, a nurse administered an ultrasound and told the plaintiff that she had a viable intrauterine pregnancy. The nurse was not licensed to diagnose viable pregnancies and did not undertake appropriate medical measures to rule out an ectopic pregnancy. Rather than referring the patient for immediate medical evaluation, Clear Way staff focused on encouraging her to continue the pregnancy. As a result of the misdiagnosis, this woman's ectopic pregnancy ruptured, causing massive internal bleeding and requiring emergency surgery. She lost a fallopian tube and narrowly avoided death. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schneider).

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I wish we could think of the woman in Pennsylvania who was pregnant who sought care at what she thought was a medically certified clinic, but during her appointment, the staff told her she had already miscarried and was sent home. As time went on, though, she continued experiencing pregnancy symptoms, so she later went to a licensed doctor who told her she was still pregnant and that the crisis pregnancy center had given her the wrong information. This misdiagnosis greatly increased her risk of having pregnancy complications. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson).

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about Kentucky, where a postpartum nurse with 20 years of experience was motivated to volunteer at a crisis pregnancy center. During her training, she learned that the clinic was using expired disinfectants to sanitize ultrasound equipment. Not only that, the kind of disinfectant that the clinic was using was ineffective in targeting human papillomavirus, which causes 90 percent of cervical cancer cases. The volunteer nurse quit. She filed whistleblower complaints with the State, but nothing was ever done, highlighting the lack of accountability at the centers. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, let me say, there is a comprehensive study by the Alliance for Women's Rights and Gender Equality that studied 607 crisis pregnancy centers across nine States, and they documented a consistent pattern of deception, misinformation, and patient harm. Nearly two-thirds of the centers promoted patently false or biased medical claims about pregnancy, abortions, contraception, or reproductive health providers, and fewer than half reported having a licensed medical professional on staff. These are not isolated incidents. These are standard practices for these centers. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Morrison).

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, well, it is not hogwash to this woman in Georgia. She sought care from an unregulated clinic that offered free ultrasounds and medical advice. She thought that was so great. The ultrasound technician incorrectly informed her that her baby's kidneys were filled with water and that she needed to see a primary care doctor. The diagnosis was incorrect, but the stress of that misdiagnosis severely impacted the mother. She said: The irony in all this is that they could have caused me to lose a perfectly healthy pregnancy. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify that this bill actually allows these funds to be free of any accountability. It actually changes the way in which these TANF funds are being used. Right now, there has to be accountability if States use TANF funds for the crisis pregnancy centers. What this bill does is, by amending section 404 of the Social Security Act to state that nothing in this part may be construed to restrict TANF funding for pregnancy centers, this bill actually overrides TANF's statutory purposes, reporting requirements, penalty authority, and HHS enforcement provisions. As a result, any future Federal effort to limit condition or review TANF funding for these crisis pregnancy centers could be challenged as prohibited by this statute. Even if that center engages in deceptive advertising and does actions that even result in the death of a woman, there would be nothing that could be done about that crisis pregnancy center. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the truth is abundantly clear. Both the American Medical Association and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have raised serious ethical and medical concerns about so-called crisis pregnancy centers. These facilities are unregulated. They have no obligation to provide accurate medical information. They are not subject to HIPAA. They are not required to protect patient confidentiality. Yet, Republicans are determined to send them Federal taxpayer dollars anyway. I talked about this very comprehensive report by the Alliance for Women's Rights and Gender Equality, which studied 607 crisis pregnancy centers across 9 States. They documented patients' experiences at the centers. In one case, a patient seeking abortion care was misled into believing she was too early in pregnancy to receive medical care and was encouraged to delay seeing a licensed provider, despite experiencing symptoms consistent with a pregnancy complication. In another documented case, a patient was falsely told that abortion would cause infertility and severe mental illness, information that directly contradicted established medical evidence. Several patients reported being reassured that severe pain or bleeding was normal, only to later require emergency medical intervention when complications were left untreated. If Republicans truly cared about TANF oversight, they would have spoken out when millions of TANF dollars were stolen from struggling families in Mississippi to build a volleyball stadium and when the Trump administration stepped in to shield the perpetrators from accountability. Instead, they were silent. The bottom line is simple. Anti-abortion centers that spread misinformation and put women at risk should not receive taxpayer dollars. Certainly, they should not receive taxpayer dollars that are completely unregulated. If we want to support parents and pregnant women, let's continue helping them. That is why the House should reject this particular bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, 1 week ago, Republicans skyrocketed healthcare costs for 22 million Americans. They chose to let the ACA tax credits expire, even though there was bipartisan support to extend them. Now, families are seeing premiums jump by hundreds, even thousands, of dollars a month. That is utterly devastating and was entirely avoidable. Middle-class families are being forced to cancel coverage. People with cancer are going uninsured. Small business owners are being told to pay 34 percent more, or $40,000 a year, or go without care. Republicans knew this would happen, and they did it anyway. Now, we have a chance to fix it. Democrats have a clean, 3-year extension of these tax credits on the floor today with bipartisan support. Let's make sure families get the help they need. We must vote ``yes'' on this bill.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago today, the communities of Altadena and Pasadena that I represent in California were struck by tragedy. In just a matter of hours, the Eaton fire, driven by hurricane-force winds reaching 90 miles an hour, forever changed the communities my constituents have called home for generations. The fire destroyed over 9,000 structures, most of them single-family homes. It scorched over 14,000 acres, decimating entire neighborhoods and turning places of worship, schools, restaurants, and community institutions to rubble. Most tragically, it took the lives of 19 of our loved ones, neighbors, and friends. We have recently learned that 440 additional people across southern California died in the month following the fire due to delays in medical care and exposure to toxic elements. The Eaton fire was the second most destructive wildfire in California's history. Those we lost helped to shape the fabric of their communities, and their absence has left a void that cannot be filled. They are in our thoughts on this 1-year anniversary of the fire. We remember Anthony Mitchell, Sr., a 68-year-old father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who brought everybody together, and we remember his son, Justin, who was born with cerebral palsy and was known for his infectious smile. Anthony and Justin both died waiting for help that they would never receive. We remember Victor Shaw, who resided in his beloved Altadena home for 60 years and who died with a garden hose in his hand, fighting to save his property. These are just a few of the stories of those we lost, all of whom were taken far too soon. That is why, today, I have introduced a resolution with Representative Sherman and Senators Schiff and Padilla to commemorate and honor all the lives that we lost in these fires. Even in our darkest days and every day since, survivors have shown extraordinary resilience and strength. First responders put their lives on the line to save others. Neighbors opened their doors to offer shelter to those who had nowhere to go. Organizations big and small came together to make sure our neighbors who had just lost everything had a warm meal, a roof over their heads, and a shoulder to cry on. Federal, State, and local governments mobilized to get families the help they needed, help that has made a tremendous impact on our road to recovery and rebuilding. Emergency operation hubs were propped up in a matter of hours. Recovery centers were created at an amazingly rapid speed so that survivors could access free individualized guidance and assistance when they needed it most. On top of that, FEMA approved over $150 million in housing and other emergency assistance. SBA approved over $3 billion in loans for small businesses, homeowners, and renters. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers did an amazingly fast residential wildfire cleanup. It was the fastest in our Nation's history. These efforts saved lives and laid the groundwork for recovery, but the work is nowhere close to being complete. Every day that Congress and the Trump administration continue to delay, recovery becomes harder and more expensive. Families have already waited 1 year while rebuilding costs rise, housing shortages deepen, and displacement assistance expires. Disaster aid is not a favor. It is a responsibility. Today, 70 percent of Eaton fire survivors have not yet returned home, and the majority have not even begun the arduous process of rebuilding. Almost one-half of survivors still reside in either temporary or unstable housing. Families are exhausting their savings, taking on debt, skipping medical care, and making impossible choices just to get by. Small businesses are struggling to reopen. Families whose homes are still standing but are contaminated with dangerous toxins are being forced to decide between a place to sleep and their health. Survivors need our help, and they need it right now. That is why I say something very important: President Trump and congressional Republicans must fulfill their responsibility to help communities impacted by disaster and fully deliver Governor Newsom's $34 billion disaster supplemental request with no strings attached. I have joined Democrats and Republicans across California in urging the administration to act immediately. Families can't afford further delay. We do not abandon people after a disaster.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 498, the so-called Do No Harm in Medicaid Act. Yesterday, four Republicans stood with Democrats and signed a discharge petition to force a vote on a clean extension of ACA premium tax credits, but Republican leadership is refusing to immediately bring that bill to the floor. Now, 22 million Americans will see their premiums skyrocket, and our constituents will be forced to decide between healthcare and paying rent or affording groceries. Instead of allowing a bipartisan vote to lower healthcare costs, Republicans have chosen to bring forward H.R. 498, which completely ignores the affordability crisis and needlessly targets transgender children. That includes my nephew, Lee, who is currently transitioning. He is a child. He is loved, and like every other child in this country, the healthcare decisions should be made by his family and his doctors, not by politicians. H.R. 498 would strip Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care for trans youth, care that is medically necessary, evidence-based, and supported by every major medical association in this country. This bill will endanger lives, and it will do nothing to bring down skyrocketing healthcare costs or address any real issues facing working Americans. Instead, it denies medically necessary care simply because that care goes to a trans child. As vice chair of the Equality Caucus, I will always fight to protect the dignity, safety, and humanity of the trans community. Lee deserves better. Our children deserve better, and the entire trans community deserves better.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, in 2 weeks, 22 million Americans will see their health insurance premiums skyrocket, not by accident, but because Republicans refuse to extend ACA tax credits that keep care affordable. After 15 years, this is the Republican healthcare plan: higher costs, weaker coverage, and recycled ACA sabotage. Millions will pay hundreds or thousands of dollars more, and millions could lose coverage altogether. Democrats have a solution right now and have the 218 bipartisan signatures for a clean bill to extend these tax credits. Speaker Johnson must put this bill on the floor now. The consequences are real. The American people are watching.

Ms. CHU

Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Kent Douglas Wong, who tragically passed away on October 8, 2025. Mr. Wong dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of workers and immigrants, and his legacy will live on in the institutions he built, the progress he fought for, and the generations of leaders he fostered over his decades of work in California and across the country. As the director of the UCLA Labor Center for 32 years, Mr. Wong brought it to national prominence as the leading institution for innovative research, advocacy, and leadership development on labor issues. He was instrumental in expanding and renovating a new headquarters for the center near MacArthur Park, which was named after his mentor, nonviolent civil rights leader, Rev. James Lawson, Jr. Under his leadership, the University of California established labor centers at all nine campuses. Mr. Wong also led the establishment of such centers at three universities in Mexico and helped strengthen labor education programs overseas in China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan and the Philippines. Mr. Wong was the founding president of the United Association for Labor Education and a vice president of the California Federation of Teachers. His leadership within such a multitude of institutions demonstrated his lifelong dedication to advancing the rights and empowerment of immigrants and workers. In 1992, Mr. Wong founded the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), the first and only national organization of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) workers. Under Mr. Wong's leadership, APALA gave AANHPI workers a stronger voice in the labor movement and developed a comprehensive strategy to address the unique challenges that AANHPI communities face nationwide. As a fifth-generation Chinese American whose grandmothers were stripped of their American citizenship under the Chinese Exclusion Act, Mr. Wong believed every individual, regardless of background, deserves equal rights and the opportunity to succeed. From teaching in UCLA's Asian American Studies and Labor Studies programs to launching Dream Summer, the first paid, national fellowship for undocumented youth, he brought immigrant voices to the heart of labor and education. He authored and co-authored several books teaching lessons of immigrant and labor organizing as well as nonviolent philosophy, including ``Dreams Deported: Immigrant Youth and Families Resist Deportation.'' Mr. Wong was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended the University of California, Berkeley, before earning a law degree and beginning a career fighting for civil and workers' rights. He was the first staff attorney for Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which was then known as the Asian Pacific American Legal Center for Southern California, before serving as an attorney for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 660. Mr. Wong's courage, humility, and unwavering commitment to justice inspired everyone who had the privilege of knowing him, and I was fortunate to count him as a dear friend. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating his life and recognizing his incredible legacy, which will continue to energize the next generation of leaders in the fight for equality and opportunity for all.