Angie Craig

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Tokuda).

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maine (Ms. Pingree).

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my distinguished colleague.

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Chair, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Hayes), my distinguished colleague.

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in opposition to this bill. Mr. Chair, at kitchen tables across this country, millions of Americans--seniors, working parents, and farmers--are wondering how they are going to pay the bills or not lose money this planting season. From tariffs that have cost our farmers' markets to a war that has increased the cost of fertilizer and diesel, farmers are struggling to hold on to that third-or fourth-generation farm. This so-called skinny farm bill in front of us today does nothing to stop these losses or to help offset the $54 billion in losses farmers have had to absorb. Worse yet, it doesn't fix any of the underlying policy choices by Republicans and this administration that caused the problems in the first place. It turns a blind eye to the farmers calling for emergency economic assistance so they can afford to keep planting. It locks in the $187 billion cut to food assistance that Republicans made in the big, ugly bill--putting more pressure on struggling Americans at a time when the cost of groceries and healthcare continues to grow. That is what the farm bill doesn't do. It doesn't lower costs. It doesn't help save one family farm from bankruptcy, which is up nearly 50 percent since this administration took office. So what does this so-called bill attempt to do? It protects the world's largest pesticide companies from lawsuits, cuts farm conservation programs by $1 billion, and overturns the will of voters in States nationwide that set specific animal welfare and food standards for themselves. Putting the harmful policies aside, the political calculus on this should be easy. Do we want to lower costs for farmers and working people, or do we want to protect pesticide companies and lock in cuts to food assistance at a time when grocery prices are spiking? Do we want to pass a farm bill that delivers for farmers on the verge of bankruptcy and families going hungry, or do we want to sit on our hands and make excuses? I urge my colleagues to reject this version of the farm bill and force Republicans back to the table to negotiate a true bipartisan bill that prioritizes the cost of living crisis in this country. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Green-lighting this rule and the underlying bill is sending a message to every American that Congress does not have their back. It sends a signal to farm country that they are on their own. This bill needs a do-over. My hope is the Senate will provide that do-over. It is not worthy of our support, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``no'' on this rule.

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, my Republican colleague mentioned Minneapolis. Let's talk about Minneapolis since this is a rules debate. Mr. Speaker, in this rule is additional funding for ICE and CBP. Let's talk about Minneapolis. Let's talk about the fact that two U.S. citizens were murdered on the streets of Minneapolis. There is no way in hell Democrats are going to give one more penny to ICE and CBP until reforms are in place. So if you want to bring up Minneapolis, we can bring up Minneapolis, but you better bring it up with the full context of what the Trump administration is doing in our country that we will not stand for. Mr. Speaker, related to the farm bill, the Rules Committee had the opportunity to improve this legislation which falls way short of the 5- year, 12-title farm bill that we should be here discussing today. We should have addressed the tariffs that are bankrupting America's family farmers. Farm bankruptcies are up 50 percent across this country over the last year in the Trump administration. Farm bankruptcies are up 70 percent in the Midwest. Trump's trade wars are destroying American farmers. They are sending China to Brazil and Argentina for that business. When we think about what the Trump administration is doing--the Iran war has increased fertilizer costs. It has increased diesel prices. This is not putting America's farmers first. Anytime this President tells you that he loves you, ask him what his actions are doing to help you. We should have included additional farm aid. The Farm Bureau says farmers have lost $54 billion over the last year--$54 billion over the last year. Believe it or not, this administration said they are giving our family farmers $12 billion. That is how much we are going to give our family farmers. We should have bolstered SNAP. At the end of the day, it is unconscionable to me that we used reconciliation to plus-up crop insurance programs--Democrats would have supported that in a farm bill--and then cut SNAP by $187 billion. Don't say we didn't cut SNAP. That is absolute nonsense. What you did is you shifted the cost to States in our country, an unfunded mandate that is already increasing taxes in a State like Minnesota. Our counties are having to raise property taxes for constituents to pay for it, and, by the way, a lot of these constituents are Republican constituents. We should have rallied around a bill that helped family farmers and working families in this country. Instead, this rule opens the door for a bill that rubberstamps tariffs. It does nothing to lower costs on farm inputs. It opens the door for a bill that does not provide a single penny in additional farm aid. It locks in the $187 billion cut to SNAP that has already deprived 3.4 million Americans of food assistance.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend, Public Safety Director Pete Koerner, on his retirement after 34 years with the city of Cottage Grove. Chief Koerner is a dedicated public servant and an outstanding leader in our community. Chief Koerner began his career with the Cottage Grove Police Department in 1992, where he served as a community service officer. Throughout his tenure, Chief Koerner served in several roles including as a school resource officer, a detective, a Project D.A.R.E. officer and a crisis negotiator. He was first promoted to sergeant, then captain, and in 2018, he was named Director of Public Safety. As Director of Public Safety, Chief Koerner strengthened community trust through his commitment to transparency and service. He was kind enough to facilitate a ride-along for me with his department, which provided me with new insight into the valuable work Cottage Grove police officers, like Chief Koerner, do every day. He was instrumental in advocating for the construction of the HERO Training Center in Cottage Grove which provides public safety personnel with access to critical educational resources. I had the privilege of touring this outstanding facility and am grateful for Chief Koerner's work to make it a reality. Chief Koerner's community involvement extends beyond his official role. In his free time, Chief Koerner has coached baseball and basketball for the Cottage Grove Athletic Association. He also served as a board member for several community groups, including the Friends in Need Food Shelf, the Holiday Train Committee, the Strawberry Festival Committee and the Cottage Grove Lions. I am deeply inspired by Chief Koerner's commitment to serving his neighbors. His leadership in public safety will have a lasting impact on Cottage Grove, and I am grateful for all he has done to protect and support our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Chief Koerner and in wishing him all the best on his well-earned retirement.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Captain Gary S. Tomczik, United States Army-Aviation, who passed away on March 20, 2026. Captain Tomczik was originally from St. Cloud, Minnesota, and graduated from St. Cloud Cathedral High School. While attending St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, he was accepted into the ROTC Aviation program and began flying lessons in St. Cloud and St. Paul. In 1967, he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, and attended Helicopter Flight School at Ft. Rucker, Alabama. Shortly after, he was sent to Vietnam for his first tour of duty. During this tour, he served with distinction as he conducted airlift missions transporting troops and supplies into and out from theater, engaged in medical evacuation missions for injured troops, and flew numerous night missions. During his second tour in Vietnam, he served as the executive officer in his unit, directly assisting the unit commander, and oversaw the maintenance and repair of aircraft. This role required him to test choppers before their return to combat, a particularly risky task. Despite the danger, Captain Tomczik served his country with courage and conviction. Following his tours in Vietnam, he served as an instructor to new pilots at Ft. Rucker. As an instructor, Captain Tomczik took the safety of his students very seriously and worked tirelessly to ensure they had the tools and training they needed to succeed. Captain Tomczik was unwavering in his dedication to serving his Nation and instilled in his students their responsibility to always put the American people first in the performance of their duties. Captain Tomczik's courage and skill during his service were recognized with numerous Army commendations, including the Bronze Star, the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60-device, the Vietnam Service Medal, three Army Overseas Service bars, the Army Aviator Badge, and the National Defense Service Medal. Following his service in Vietnam and at Ft. Rucker, Captain Tomczik continued his work with helicopters for Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. His career took him all over the world, before he and his wife of 53 years, Hilary, settled in Santa Barbara, California. I offer my deepest condolences to Captain Tomczik's family--his wife, Hilary, his sons Graham and Damien, and his siblings Ron, Janet, Mel, and Patrick. I want to thank him and his fellow veterans, including his three brothers, for their service to our country.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, the list of the Trump administration's reckless attacks on SNAP, our country's largest and most efficient anti-hunger program, is miles long: Taking food assistance away from 4 million Americans, illegally demanding SNAP participants' personal data, spreading misinformation about SNAP and fraud, failing to uphold their duties to states and program beneficiaries, eliminating 30 percent of USDA staff, haphazardly eliminating and relocating many regional offices and more. Today, in response to these attacks, MAZON delivered more than 47,000 postcards to USDA. These postcards flooding USDA send a clear message: that no one deserves to go hungry and SNAP must be protected, not cut. The more than 47,000 handwritten postcards MAZON delivered today also represent the more than 47 million Americans that are facing financial instability and aren't sure where their next meal will come from. They are an expression of concern and outrage over the state of hunger in America and the need to take positive action to address it-- not exacerbate it, as Republicans in Congress and the White House have chosen to do over the past year. These postcards were sent from people's homes, synagogues, schools, community organizations, and nonprofits; some even hosted postcard writing parties where they invited their loved ones to take part in communal action with them. It is an important reminder of what can happen when we refuse to lose hope. A reminder that we should continue challenging politicians who say that America can't afford to feed its people. My hope is that these postcards refocus this administration on the things that matter. I hope that they remind the Secretary of her duty to carry out SNAP in good faith and as it was intended: to provide for the basic nutritional needs of the American people; to provide a hand up at a time when so many need help affording groceries, rent, utilities and childcare.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend, Chief Hugo Searle, on his retirement after 34 years with the fire service. Chief Searle is a dedicated public servant and an outstanding leader who has served Minnesotans with courage and commitment. Originally from Wales, Chief Searle made Minnesota his home and devoted his career to protecting our communities. He served 19 years with the St. Louis Park Fire Department and 10 years with the Brooklyn Park Fire Department before being appointed Chief of the Eagan Fire Department in 2021. During his tenure as Chief, he strengthened community relationships, invested deeply in personnel and guided the department through a period of growth and change. His leadership enhanced emergency response capabilities and fostered a culture grounded in professionalism, compassion, and service. Chief Searle has earned the respect of his colleagues from across the state and is widely regarded as a leader within Minnesota's fire service community. Chief Searle's commitment to excellence extends far beyond the state. In his free time, Chief Searle serves as a high-altitude mountain guide and has summited Mount Everest. I am deeply inspired by Chief Searle's commitment to public service and exceptional leadership. His career in the fire service will have a lasting impact in Eagan and across the state of Minnesota and I am grateful for all he has done to support our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Chief Searle and in wishing him all the best on his well-earned retirement.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my friend, Chief Jeff Tate, on his retirement after 28 years with the Shakopee Police Department. Chief Tate is a dedicated public servant and model for community first policing. Under his leadership, the Shakopee PD launched Minnesota's first-ever police recovery assistance program in 2015. The Shakopee Police Recovery Assistance Program (RAP) provides people in active addiction with scholarship money to seek treatment and has served dozens of Minnesotans since its inception. Chief Tate's work to address the addiction crisis extends well beyond Minnesota. In 2023, he became one of eleven officers to join the Public Safety Council for the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI), helping spread the importance of this work across the country. Last year, he received recognition from PAARI and was presented with the ``Leadership Award for Advocacy and Community''. I first met Chief Tate after becoming the Congresswoman for Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District in 2019. Over the years, I've sought guidance from Chief Tate, especially on topics related to law enforcement, community policing, mental health and addiction. I have also had the honor of working with him through my Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Advisory Council, where his insights have been invaluable. Chief Tate's compassionate approach to policing is respected and recognized by his peers. He has won numerous awards including the MN Chiefs of Police Association ``President's Award'' and the MN Department of Public Safety's ``Distinguished Public Leadership Award''. Last year, Mothers Against Drunk Driving awarded Chief Tate and the Shakopee PD their ``Outstanding Law Enforcement Agency Award''. I am grateful for Chief Tate's public service and share his love of country music--especially Garth Brooks. His impact in Shakopee and across Minnesota will be felt for generations to come. I wish Chief Tate the best in retirement.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I want to start by thanking my colleagues in the Democratic Party who did everything in their power to make these bills as best they could under very difficult circumstances. Over the past month, President Trump has made it his mission to incite chaos and fear in Minnesota. He has taken his quest for political retribution to our communities, and Minnesotans have paid the price. Through President Trump and Kristi Noem's reckless and lawless ICE operations, the administration has targeted communities of color, ripped families apart, detained U.S. citizens, and made it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs. As a result, it has endangered every single Minnesotan. Earlier this month, the President's political stunt got a Minneapolis mother, Renee Good, killed. That didn't prompt the President to withdraw ICE or attempt to deescalate the unfolding situation in our cities. Why? Because escalation isn't a symptom. It is the whole point. I won't vote to give Kristi Noem's ICE one damn penny, but the truth is, I refuse to play any part in this administration's cruel and dangerous agenda. While there are certainly some important provisions in these bills, and I commend my colleagues for working to get them to the place that I know we are now, I can't in good faith support any funding package that enables this administration in any way until ICE de-escalates in Minnesota. This is not how we operate in America. It is certainly not how we operate in Minnesota. As Members of Congress, we must do everything in our power to fight this administration at every turn, and that means using the power of the purse to curb the President's executive authority. I urge my colleagues in this body to support me. Enough is enough.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Eagan Police Chief Roger New on his retirement after thirty-one years with the police force. From a young age, Chief New knew he wanted to be in law enforcement. After graduating with a social science degree from Concordia College he joined the Eagan Police Department as a Community Service Officer in 1994. Over the next two decades, he took on several roles with the department including as a DARE officer, School Resource Officer, detective, sergeant and lieutenant. New also earned a master's degree in public administration from Metro State University and graduated from the FBI National Academy. In 2016, New became a Deputy Chief before being named Eagan Chief of Police in 2018. As Chief, New prioritized building strong community partnerships, implemented innovative practices and invested in officer mental health and well-being. I am proud to have worked with Chief New and the Eagan Police Department on trying to secure funding for the Valley Acres Range. I'll always remember touring and shooting rounds at the facility myself. I am grateful for Chief New's public service. He has created a lasting impact in Eagan and across the state of Minnesota. He isn't just our Chief, but a dear friend. I will continue to seek his input and guidance on law enforcement and mental health policies. I wish Chief New the best in retirement.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of Officer Karl Haugen, who passed away recently while off-duty. As early as high school, Karl expressed an interest in becoming a first responder. After attending the Law Enforcement Program at Alexandria Technical College and earning his Bachelor's Degree from Mankato State University, he began his public service career, working at the Minnesota Forensic Hospital in St. Peter. He later worked at the MN Correctional Facility--Faribault and served for two years as Henderson Chief of Police. In 2008, he became an officer with the Le Sueur Police Department. Officer Haugen was well-known in the community for his humor, generosity, and compassionate approach to law enforcement. Despite the challenges and sacrifices of rural policing, he remained dedicated to public service and demonstrated a talent for seeing the good in people. I offer my deepest condolences to Officer Haugen's family--his wife, Morgan, and his young children, Griffin, Aurora, and Teddy, and I thank him and the entire Le Sueur Police Department for their service to our community.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent, Sergeant Donald ``Donny'' Grundhauser, who recently passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Sergeant Grundhauser joined the Saint Paul Police Department in 1994, proud to serve the area where he was born and raised. Over the course of his 30-year career, he served in a wide range of demanding assignments, including SWAT, the Homicide Unit, the Gang and Gun Unit, ATF Federal Task Force, East Investigations as an Acting Commander and the Special Operations Unit. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Sergeant Grundhauser received three Unit Citations, three Medals of Commendation, two Unit Letters of Recognition, and five individual Letters of Recognition. Sergeant Grundhauser was deeply respected by his neighbors and colleagues for his courage, selflessness, and commitment to helping others. Known to his fellow officers as ``Grundy,'' he was a mentor and friend to many, and he lived by the belief that it never cost anything to be kind. His family carries on his legacy of service, with his son, Nicholas, and his two brothers, Mark and Keith, also serving in the Saint Paul Police Department. I offer my deepest condolences to Sergeant Grundhauser's family--his wife, Kelly, and his children, Jacob and Nicholas. Sergeant Grundhauser represented the best of law enforcement, and I thank him and his family for their service to our community.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, every summer, grains planted by hardworking Minessotans cover around 40 percent of my district. U.S. grain standards are a key component of foreign trade and the promotion of American agricultural exports. The inspections and certifications done by the Federal Grain Inspection Service, states and private agencies provide foreign importers with certainty regarding the quality of the grain bought from U.S. farmers. With parts of the existing U.S. Grain Standards Act set to expire on September 30, 2025, I am proud to be the lead Democratic cosponsor to reauthorize and improve this law. This bill before reauthorizes annual appropriations for standard development and maintenance, USDA's authority to collect fees for supervision of inspections and weighing, an administrative/supervisory cost cap and the Grain Inspection Advisory Committee. All important components of the existing law. It also makes key improvements, not least of all directing the USDA to prioritize the modernization of grain grading technologies. The U.S. grain inspection system is known around the world for quality and reliability. By focusing USDA's attention on modernization, we can continue to hold our place as the world's gold standard in grain inspection. Reauthorizing the U.S. Grain Standards Act is important for our farmers and their customers, and I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great Minnesotan, Joan Growe, ahead of her 90th birthday on September 28, 2025. Born Joan Ruth Anderson in 1935, Joan was introduced to public service early in her life. Her father, Arthur Anderson, served as mayor of her hometown of Buffalo, Minnesota, where she would later graduate from Buffalo High School. She then went on to earn a teaching degree from St. Cloud State University and spent the following years giving back to her community as a teacher and a homemaker. In 1972, Joan launched a bid for an open seat in the Minnesota State Legislature. While critics mocked her ``Housewives Campaign'', she embraced the network of women she'd met through the League of Women Voters. She met people where they were, attending coffee parties, book clubs, and PTA meetings. This coalition carried her to victory, and she spent her time in the Minnesota House fighting for election integrity and voting access. She championed Minnesota's same-day voter registration law, the first of its kind in the Nation. Her election as secretary of state in 1974 made her the first woman in Minnesota's history to win a statewide election without prior appointment. Her 24-year tenure also made her the second longest serving secretary of state in our state's history. During this time, she found creative ways to encourage voter participation, from voter education campaigns to friendly contests between cities. As a result, Minnesota was named the Nation's ``Votingest State'' under her watch-- beginning a legacy of strong voter turnout that continues to this day. Since leaving public office, Joan has worked tirelessly to ensure that all elections remain accessible and secure. She has been selected to serve as an official election observer in various foreign elections and served on the advisory committee for the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Her expertise in voting and elections is known worldwide, and she continues to make our state proud wherever she goes. I thank Joan for everything she has done for our shared democratic values, for every glass ceiling that she's broken, and for being such a dear friend. I wish her a Happy Birthday.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Rasmussen University on their 125th anniversary. Founded in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 1, 1900, Rasmussen University has spent 125 years building a powerful legacy of opportunity. What began as a small business school has grown into a regionally and nationally recognized institution committed to career- focused education that transforms lives and strengthens communities. Rasmussen has long served students who are often underrepresented, underserved, or overlooked by traditional higher education--providing the support, flexibility, and access they need to pursue a brighter future. Over the last 125 years, they've helped students prepare for careers that truly matter in health care, business, public service and beyond. I am proud to represent Rasmussen's Eagan campus, recognized as a national leader in nursing education. They are a Minnesota staple with other locations in Bloomington, Eagan, Brooklyn Park, Mankato, St. Cloud, and Moorhead. Rasmussen University serves more than 3,000 currently enrolled Minnesotans and has proudly graduated over 28,000 students from across the state. I congratulate Rasmussen University and I look forward to their continued success.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Terry Nelson on his retirement as Co-Chair of the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTIUM), following over four decades of leadership and advocacy in the labor industry. After graduating from Minnesota's own Hennepin Vocational Technical Education Center, Nelson began his career with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) in 1982. In 1992, Nelson began the first of numerous leadership roles, when he was elected as a trustee for the Minneapolis Painters Health and Welfare Fund and the Minneapolis Painters Pension Fund. He served in several roles within IUPAT including as President of Local Union 386 and Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer for District Council 82. In this role, he helped the Council remain solvent during the Great Recession, led negotiations for stronger contracts and worked with a developer to create a software program to streamline the reporting process for prevailing wage concerns. He went on to continue serving his union as a Chairman of the General President's Advisory Committee and Special Assistant to the General President. Nelson also helped mobilize members to advocate for union priorities and has been a strong partner for my office in advocating for organized labor. Since 2007, Terry has served as the co-chair of the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest (FTIUM), helping FTIUM gain accreditation in 2018. He has long advocated for expanding educational pathways for trade students and I had the pleasure of working with him on my bipartisan Supporting Apprenticeship Colleges Act. Nelson leaves a tremendous legacy as a public servant--in fact, Governor Walz even declared August 11, 2025 ``Terry L Nelson Day'' in Minnesota. I am grateful for his leadership and dedication to ensuring workers receive the pay and benefits they deserve. It has been an honor working with Terry over the years and I look forward to a continued friendship with him.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, soon, the Minnesota Lynx will play the New York Liberty at home in Minneapolis. As some Minnesotans may remember, I made a friendly wager with a New York Member of Congress last year at the beginning of the Minnesota Lynx-New York Liberty WNBA final series. That bet included that I would don a Liberty jersey and give a speech congratulating them from here on the House floor if they won the series. I would have, but I won't. Why won't I? Because the truth is that Minnesota didn't lose game five. I was there in New York. The Liberty didn't win. The WNBA gave it to them. Let's stop pretending that what happened in game five of the WNBA finals was just a bad call. It wasn't. The Minnesota Lynx clawed their way through the playoffs. They defied the odds. They outworked every team and every narrative. In the final seconds of a championship game, on the biggest stage, they didn't get outplayed. They got erased. Even from the House floor, right here in the Chamber, I can hear the New York fans protesting, but I know them well enough from Madison Square Garden that night to know that if this had happened to them, their outrage would be the same with much more colorful language. A phantom foul, five seconds left, Alanna Smith playing legal defense on Breanna Stewart, who, let's be honest, is the league's marketing golden girl. The contact? It was embellished, marginal at worst, but the whistle blew. The game and the title were handed to New York on a silver platter. When the Lynx challenged the call, the officials reviewed themselves. The same people who made the call decided to stand by it. That is not accountability. That is the system protecting itself. That is the fix being called in. Meanwhile, Napheesa Collier, the heart of the Lynx, an All-Star, a force in the paint, didn't shoot a single free throw the entire game. Now, tell me, how does a player so dominant in the lane never draw contact? Because she was erased from the whistle. Let me just say it out loud right here from the House Chamber: The WNBA wanted the Liberty to win--a big market team, superstar faces, a tidy storyline for the league office and the league commissioner, who literally wore the New York skyline on her dress that night. Minnesota? We were the wrong script--too gritty, too real, too inconvenient. The league talks about fairness. The league talks about lifting women up. Pay them what they deserve if you want to lift women up in the WNBA. They talk about growing the game with integrity, but when the stakes were high, the WNBA didn't protect the game. They manipulated it. They chose a winner. Here is the truth: Minnesota didn't lose game five. The WNBA took it from them, and I will be damned if I ever put on a New York Liberty jersey.

Ms. CRAIG

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of nearly 44 million American consumers who have invested in, traded, or used digital assets. That is one in five Americans. The public interest in these markets is already here, and it is not going away. Under the status quo, there is a gap in regulation for the digital commodity asset market. Our work here today could begin to provide the protections that American investors are accustomed to in traditional financial markets that are regulated by the CFTC. Regardless of whether Congress acts, these markets will continue to grow. The only question is whether we will begin the hard work of developing regulation or refuse to begin. The CLARITY Act would put consumer protections in place for the first time for this industry. Consumers will finally be protected by the same sort of guardrails that protect investors in other sectors of the economy: segregation of customer deposits, consumer disclosures, mandatory recordkeeping, and examination by regulators. We do not want another FTX. The 2022 collapse of the world's third largest cryptocurrency exchange wiped out an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion in value, leaving American consumers holding the bag. The CLARITY Act would have largely mitigated or avoided this crisis entirely. Former Biden administration CFTC Chairman Russ Behnam testified yesterday before the Senate Agriculture Committee: `` . . . inaction will only result in greater risk to our financial markets and investors, through lack of market transparency, fraud, market manipulation, corruption, and conflicts of interest.'' That is lack of action. Mr. Speaker, let me address the elephant in the room: the First Family's involvement with digital assets and personally profiting from them. It has rightfully raised questions of impropriety and alarmed government ethics watchdogs. The First Family's personal financial involvement in other sectors, such as telecoms, should ring alarm bells, as well, loud and clear as it comes to ethics in our country. There is a time and place for holding the powerful accountable, and that must happen. We should address executive branch corruption independently, and it should apply to all sectors. Today, we must focus on regulation and protections for consumers because, today, one in five Americans, and growing, lack those protections and lack any guardrails. It is our job to start putting them in place. Is this bill perfect? No. Can it be improved upon? Absolutely, and I encourage my Senate colleagues to keep working on those outstanding issues. This bill deserves our support, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Davis), my distinguished colleague and the ranking member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from North Carolina.

Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. McDonald Rivet), my distinguished colleague who serves on the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development. Ms. McDONALD RIVET. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice support for the CLARITY Act. While there is still work to be done, it is an important step in providing crucial and clear regulatory framework to the crypto industry. Let's break it down. Today, one in six U.S. adults, 17 percent of the population, are invested in or use cryptocurrency. That is 55 million Americans. There is more than $3 trillion invested in the industry. It is dangerous and irresponsible that a market of this size and scope is currently operating without a clear regulatory framework. For consumers, innovators, and the stability of our Nation's economy, the CLARITY Act is an important first step forward. It protects consumers and equips assigned agencies with the appropriate authority to provide efficient and thorough oversight over digital asset markets. It also provides desperately needed certainty so that businesses can grow and evolve. I will be clear: If the CLARITY Act had been in place, the FTX market crash that caused their customers to lose $8 billion would not have happened. This bill strengthens our national security by giving regulators the tools they need to track cross-border transactions and stop digital assets from being used to evade sanctions or fund our adversaries. The bill is not perfect, and it does not resolve every issue. Like many of my colleagues, I am deeply concerned about the Trump family's potential conflicts of interest in using crypto to profit from the Office of the Presidency. That is why I voted for amendments to impose guardrails to stop elected officials from improperly profiting off trades, and I will continue to push strongly for solutions to this problem. However, we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good. We stand at a critical moment where market structure is critical for our consumers, economy, and security, and the CLARITY Act moves us meaningfully forward.