Gilbert Cisneros

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for recognizing me. This highly partisan amendment would prevent DOD from contracting with entities that perform fact-checking for recruitment purposes. Explain to me how we are enhancing national security, deterring our adversaries, and, most importantly, increasing servicemember quality- of-life needs by going after a contract. In my previous role, I oversaw recruiting for the military services. Never did one of them ever come to me stating they couldn't recruit because of this tool. As the gentleman said, it had to do with COVID. It was because the services weren't putting money into their recruiting budgets. That is why recruiting went down. It is amendments like this that not only put our national security at risk but make this bipartisan process crumble before us in the House. Madam Chair, do you know who loves to feed this information through sites that don't fact-check? Russia, Iran, the People's Republic of China, and other adversaries do. Republican leadership has continued to fail the American people by making this bipartisan bill a rightwing culture war process. When we should be debating the administration deploying Active-Duty servicemembers on U.S. citizens in our cities or managing the destructive mess Hegseth and Trump have turned the Pentagon into, we are dealing with this nonsense. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this amendment.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of a dedicated public servant from California's 31st District. Assistant Fire Chief Mike Fountain has served the community of West Covina and the West Covina Fire Department since 1995. Over his 30-year distinguished career, he has served as a firefighter, paramedic, fire captain, and assistant fire chief. He has worked tirelessly to ensure the community has the medical supplies and equipment it needs at all times. His impact on the community extends well beyond the firehouse walls. Mr. Fountain committed countless hours to mentoring newly minted firefighters and leading the firefighters' union as president. Through his example, Mike Fountain has shown us what leadership is all about. Mike has ensured the readiness of the West Covina Fire Department and made the firefighters and the community a top priority. That community is safer because of his work. Mr. Speaker, we congratulate Mr. Fountain on an incredible career and a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate Leslie Rook of Monrovia, California. Earlier this year, Leslie completed a truly impressive feat of running 50 marathons in all 50 States with an average of three marathons each year. Over the past 14 years of this challenge, Leslie ran more than 1,300 miles during these marathons alone, but thousands more to train for this incredible accomplishment. Leslie balanced her love of running with her already busy life as an occupational therapist, wife, and mother of two. I am truly amazed by Leslie's dedication, stamina, and drive. Madam Speaker, I congratulate Leslie on this remarkable achievement. She has made our district proud.

Mr. CISNEROS

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

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate John Michael Spaun, Jr., or J.J. Spaun, on his U.S. Open victory. J.J. is a proud product of California's 31st Congressional District, a graduate of San Dimas High School, where he played on the golf team and was a CIF Southern Section finalist 2 years in a row. He went on to play for San Diego State University, and after graduation he went professional. On the morning of Sunday, June 15, Father's Day, J.J. woke up early to tend to his daughter who wasn't feeling well. Just a few hours later, he was on his way to the U.S. Open. On the 18th hole, J.J. sunk a 64-foot putt to clinch his first major championship. The 31st Congressional District wants to congratulate him on his incredible victory, and we wish him the best of luck at The Open Championship in Northern Ireland. Honoring the Retirement of Captain Daniel Regan

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the retirement of Captain Daniel Regan of the Covina Police Department. He was promoted to captain in 2022 and managed the Investigations, K9, Firearms, and Records units. As a well-distinguished and awarded police officer, Captain Regan's 35-year-long career exemplifies true service and sacrifice. He has defined what it means to protect and serve our community. Mr. Speaker, I thank him for all he has done to keep our families and our communities safe. I congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement and we wish him all the best. Commending Glendora and San Dimas High School's Varsity Baseball Teams

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Glendora and San Dimas High School's baseball teams for reaching the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship game. After a hard-fought pitchers' duel, Glendora was victorious with a 2- 0 shutout victory. This was Glendora High's first baseball CIF championship in 15 years. It was a remarkable season, capped by a historic victory. Mr. Speaker, both teams are to be commended for their hard work and dedication, and I wish them both good luck for next season. Go Tartans.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the retirement of a dedicated public servant in California's 31st District. Enrique Zaldivar has served the city of Baldwin Park as chief executive officer since 2021. Demonstrating years of leadership and honoring a commitment to serve the nearly 80,000 residents of Baldwin Park as the city's first Mexican-American chief executive officer, Mr. Zaldivar paved his own path to enhance city operations and make our community a better place. Throughout his tenure, he helped establish the city's Mexican Consulate on Wheels, oversaw new public safety upgrades, and brought vibrant programming to the community. Mr. Zaldivar is a respected and revered leader. Our community is better because of him. I congratulate Mr. Zaldivar on his well-deserved retirement.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to denounce the ICE raids in southern California carried out this past weekend and the President's unilateral decision to deploy the National Guard and, now, the Marines. The President claims to be going after violent criminals, but in reality, ICE is rounding up individuals off the street with no warrants, including children. Local and State law enforcement did not ask for assistance. Donald Trump is escalating the situation and making it more dangerous for everyone. Just today, he said the National Guard is preventing the violence on the street, and that is a flat-out lie. The National Guard is standing on the sidelines, watching as local law enforcement handles the situation. Now, he is sending in the Marines. This is not the mission of the Marines. They aren't trained for this. Sending them on ICE raids will only provoke confrontation. The President is playing with the lives of Californians, and the military is the pawn in his political game. He wants to create a conflict that will allow him to invoke the Insurrection Act or martial law--God only knows why--but California will never ever bend to the will of a tyrant.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for her leadership on this issue and in the committee. Mr. Speaker, this legislation does not actually address the safety of the SBA. Workers are small businesses. Since my colleagues on the other side of the aisle disagree with the city's policy, the majority chooses to punish all small businesses in that area. Let's be clear: This bill strips resources not from cities but for millions of small businesses, and it makes it harder for Americans to access assistance to start and grow their businesses. Supporting small businesses should not be a partisan issue. We in the Committee on Small Business have heard in our hearings that targeting SBA resources in major cities will be critically detrimental. For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to the committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered this motion with an important amendment to this bill. My amendment would prevent the legislation from taking effect until Congress receives reporting from the SBA on the proposed relocation of covered offices, including a justification for how these moves could possibly serve small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert into the Record the text of this amendment immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for this motion to recommit. I also submitted a separate amendment for consideration that would have prevented the implementation of this bill if the cost of relocating these offices out of Main Street would be more than zero dollars. Unfortunately, the Republican majority has blocked my amendment from receiving a floor vote today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill and to vote in favor of my motion to recommit.

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros, who lost his life in the line of duty while attempting to rescue a fellow officer. Known for his infectious smile, love of the Dodgers, and snowboarding, Officer Riveros served in the Baldwin Park Police Department for over 8 years and was a member of the SWAT team. Officer Riveros' absence leaves a wake of grief that will only be tempered by time, never to subside. However, amidst our sorrow, may we find solace in his courage, character, and the oath he kept until the end. Officer Riveros' legacy as a hero will live on in the hearts and minds of the Baldwin Park community and the 31st Congressional District. This devastating event also claimed the life of Darius Wong, a resident of Hacienda Heights and a beloved son, brother, husband, and father. Both of these men should still be here, and it breaks my heart that their lives were cut so short from this disgusting act of cruelty. Let us keep them and their families in our thoughts. May they rest in peace.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump was elected with a mandate to improve the lives of hardworking Americans, to lower housing costs, to make groceries, childcare, and medicine more affordable, and to help our seniors get the care they need. What has he done instead? He has used his position to inflate his own wealth and pad the pocketbooks of billionaire donors, all at the expense of the very people who elected him. Unlike every single President before him, Donald Trump has refused to divest his business interests. He didn't even put them in a blind trust. Instead, he handed them over to his family, who continues to profit. In the past year alone, Donald Trump has doubled his fortune from $2.3 billion to $5.1 billion. He now has over $5 billion. How is he doing that? By treating public office like a personal business opportunity. Crypto investments make up $2.9 billion of the Trump family's net worth. Just days after the inauguration, Trump announced a Trump meme coin used to funnel money into his and his family's pockets. Now, the Trump family crypto mining scheme is going public as their payouts grow larger. This is more than a conflict of interest. It is blatant corruption. He is now considering accepting a $400 million jet from Qatar dubbed a ``palace in the sky.'' How is this even ethical? Even some of my Republican colleagues agree that not only is this wrong, but it is a national security risk. As a Member of Congress, I can't even accept a gift of more than $50, let alone $400 million. It is a slap in the face of millions of people who work long hours just to put food on the table and afford the roofs over their heads. He isn't looking out for the best interests of the American people. He is only looking for what is good for the Trump business. While House Republicans are out here snatching SNAP benefits away from children, Trump is making sure his billionaire buddies get higher tax breaks. While families stress over how to make ends meet with high costs, Trump is flaunting hotels and golf courses. While House Republicans debate which critical funding to cut, Donald Trump is raking in the excess to expand his personal empire. Donald Trump is making a mockery of public office by continuing to enrich himself at the taxpayers' expense. If a Democrat were in the White House, my friends across the aisle would be losing their minds right now. Wrong is still wrong, regardless of which party this President belongs to. We need to put an end to Donald Trump's pay-for-play political gifts for the sake of our reputation, our democracy, and our future.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my generous colleague for allowing me to speak today. As Members of Congress, we are elected to champion the voices of our people and pass legislation to make their lives better. Instead, House Republicans are using their position to introduce a nonsense bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf has been known as the Gulf of Mexico since the 16th century. Why are they making a big deal out of this now? It is because they want to stroke the ego of Donald Trump. Back home in California, my constituents are concerned about putting food on the table. They are feeling crushed by high rent and afraid that they won't be able to buy a home one day. They are worried about how they can afford healthcare once these Medicaid cuts take effect. Seniors are scared their Social Security checks are going to dry up, but Republicans want to focus on renaming a body of water thousands of miles away from where we are today. Instead of addressing the things that actually matter to people back home, House Republicans are trying to distract us from the harmful policies they are forcing on all of us. This does nothing to improve the lives of our constituents. It does nothing to make our country safer, lower costs, help parents feed their kids, or give our seniors the support they deserve. This is a waste of time, and it is a disgrace to the people who elected us to serve in this body.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I will just say if this administration was keeping their promises, we would actually have a President, who, when asked if it is his responsibility to uphold the Constitution, wouldn't say I don't know, and instead of passing laws about renaming bodies of water, we would actually be doing things to help the American people. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate the winners of this year's Congressional Art Competition. Art is a cornerstone of educational success for our students, giving them a healthy, creative outlet to process their emotions and share their stories with the world. We had over 80 talented young artists submit their work to my Congressional Art Competition as the California 31st Congressional District's Representative. I am proud to announce Marely Gutierrez, an Azusa High School senior, as our first-place winner. Her charcoal and graphic artwork, Heartfelt Gaze, will be hung in the Cannon tunnel for the next year for everyone to see. I had the pleasure of meeting Marely and the other talented young artists at a ceremony we hosted last month. Our ceremony was held in the beautiful Vincenzo's Terrazza in San Dimas, where we celebrated with students, parents, teachers, and everyone who participated in this year's competition. It was such a joy to meet many of California 31st District's bright young artists and hear about the impact art has on their lives. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Marely again and all the students who submitted their artwork. I am so proud of each and every one of them.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, Pope Francis led by example. He showed compassion and empathy to all. He reminded us of our shared humanity, and he treated everyone with dignity and respect. Pope Francis understood what it meant to care for one another. Many of my Republican colleagues often talk about their Christian values. They should practice what they preach. The reconciliation bill shows no compassion and no concern for the American people. Their bill is predatory. The latest proposal to place so-called per capita caps on Medicaid funding would still jeopardize healthcare for millions of Americans. This includes over 282,000 people in my district. Mr. Speaker, 103,000 children under the age of 19 and 37,000 seniors would have their care ripped away. I urge my Republican colleagues to stop with their empty platitudes, to stop catering to the cruel authority of President Trump, to stop putting billionaires over the American people. I urge them to take Pope Francis' message of compassion, of respect, and of moral courage to heart.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 56.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, Republican leadership has called for a yearlong continuing resolution ahead of next week's government funding deadline. That is a horrible idea. To be clear, the government funding bill should have been completed last year, but House Republicans made the political decision to punt it to this year because my colleagues wanted to wait for President Trump to move into the White House. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans got what the majority wanted but still haven't been able to pass any new funding because their party refuses to accept the responsibility of governing. That is what has led us to this yearlong CR. Both the President and the Speaker have called for a ``clean'' CR, but neither of them can articulate what that means. Not only is Republican leadership struggling to say what my Republican colleagues want to see in it, but a yearlong CR would negatively impact our economy. A yearlong CR creates economic uncertainty and job insecurity because it prevents Federal agencies from making new hires and starting new programs. It delays contracts and applications for grants, which reduce the level of services agencies provide while also increasing costs. It reduces funding for nearly every Federal program that America relies on, such as VA medical care and food assistance programs. Donald Trump and shadow president Musk have already thrown hundreds of thousands of public employees in limbo. A CR would only exacerbate that uncertainty and endanger their livelihoods. Mr. Speaker, that is not the only disastrous implication of a yearlong CR. A yearlong CR would undermine our military readiness and our national security. The Department of Defense would have to slow recruiting efforts and delay servicemember moves, throwing our military families into limbo, not to mention it would potentially negate the 14.5 percent pay raise for junior-enlisted servicemembers, delay military housing projects, and undercut initiatives to improve servicemember quality of life and mental health. Also, since a yearlong CR would not account for inflation, thousands of DOD programs would see cuts. That includes programs that deal with nuclear triad modernization, shipbuilding and ship maintenance, munitions production and replenishment, and U.S. priorities in the Indo-Pacific. Ultimately, a yearlong CR would force too much uncertainty and stress on our servicemembers and their families, and it would impede our ability to react to national security threats. Even some of my Republican colleagues agree with me on this point. One Republican colleague has said: ``A continuing resolution, CR, is bad for our military and weakens our national security. A CR means new weapons programs cannot get started.'' Shipbuilding will be delayed. ``A yearlong CR means we are not serious about building a military that will deter China, Russia, and Iran.'' The White House may be out of touch with reality when it comes to Ukraine and supporting our allies abroad, but their fealty to Vladimir Putin doesn't mean the United States can resign its role in standing for Ukraine and democracies around the world. Washington Republicans need to get it together. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle control the White House and Congress. If we have a government shutdown, it falls on the majority and their inability to govern.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Small Business Procurement and Utilization Reform, or SPUR, Act. I thank Congressman Stauber and Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez for joining me in introducing this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, small business owners and entrepreneurs take a chance when they start their ventures, so it is only right that the Federal Government do what it can to provide them with a greater opportunity to succeed. Our government plays a vital role in working to keep our economy strong and vibrant, and Federal contracts can be a great opportunity and boon for our small businesses. However, the government isn't doing enough to ensure our local small businesses have access to these opportunities. We need to not only do more for small businesses with existing Federal contracts but also help attract new small businesses to navigate the Federal contracting process. The SPUR Act will help ensure more small businesses, like those in the San Gabriel Valley which I represent, can fairly compete for Federal contracts. The SPUR Act will require Federal agencies to examine the following data: How many small businesses received a prime contract for the first time and are owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans. It will track the concerns of qualified HUBZone small businesses, track the concerns of businesses controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and track the concerns of small businesses owned and controlled by women. There are several HUBZones in my district, including the cities of El Monte, Covina, Azusa, and La Puente. There are even more small businesses owned by women and people of color in my district. They are working just as hard as other small business owners to realize their dreams, and they deserve to play on the same level playing field as other small business owners that have experience navigating the Federal bureaucracy. I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation, and I thank, again, the co-leads of Congressman Stauber and Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, I originally came to the floor today because I was dismayed by the President's continued assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Department of Defense, the State Department, and countless other agencies have been instructed to no longer recognize Black History Month as part of a broad order to pause all activities and events related to ``special observances.'' It is because the President is trying to scrub our government and our country of its history and its diversity. Our diversity is our power, and the President is threatened by that power. That is why he wants our country and our government to fit his narrowminded view of what it should be like. We know who President Trump is. Barely coded racist rhetoric is his standard practice. The disgusting comments the President made, blaming the tragic crash at Reagan National Airport on DEI, were just the latest example. It is sickening, inflammatory, and pathetic. We should all be clear-eyed about what the President is doing. While the President has picked up right where he left off with his racist and xenophobic attacks, it is part of a broader mission by him and shadow president Elon Musk to dismantle and destroy our government. Since last Friday, Elon's acolytes, none of whom are government employees and by all appearances have no understanding of how our government even works, have been installed and have taken over at the State Department, the U.S. Treasury, the Office of Personnel Management, the General Services Administration, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Here is what they have done. They have downloaded the most sensitive personal information of millions of Americans to private servers. They have taken possession of all financial and personal information of everyone who does business with the Federal Government. They are taking control of security systems, personnel files, and intelligence reports that pertain to thousands upon thousands of U.S. Government workers operating overseas, many of whom are in classified roles. This is all to say that we are witnessing a coup of our government. Without any legal authority, robber baron Elon Musk has embedded himself in our government, unlawfully obtained information that affects millions of Americans, and tasked himself with carrying out President Trump's grievances against his political enemies, not to mention the President has already fired over a dozen January 6 Federal prosecutors, begun to scrutinize the perceived loyalty of thousands of rank-and-file FBI agents, and invalidated the contracts of thousands of government employees. Again, we are witnessing the power grab of two men who idolize dictators and who are now playing at being one. This is a coup. The American people will not stand for this. They will not. I have heard from my constituents who have called my office, expressing their outrage at the criminality and corruption. I plan to do everything I can at every opportunity to call out the President and Elon Musk for what they are doing. I ask my Republican colleagues to actively examine what is going on, to sincerely ask themselves if this is acceptable. Throughout our country's history, our government has served to assist the people in their times of need, to act in service of the common good, and to work for the people. The President and Elon Musk are trying to make a mockery of that purpose. They are actively perverting that purpose to make the government act as a tool of retribution and to work against the people, specifically against their political enemies. That is not why I serve. Service and leadership are not about bending government to your own personal will. It is about civic duty and public service. It is about good people doing the right thing. I ask my Republican colleagues if they really think the President and Elon Musk are doing the right thing. It is time for the people of this House to speak up.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, President Trump was elected with a mandate to improve the daily lives of hardworking Americans, a mandate to lower housing costs, make groceries more affordable, and help families get ahead and stay ahead. Let's take a moment to highlight what the President has done for the people during his first week in office: ended birthright citizenship, a guaranteed right under the 14th Amendment; terminated diversity, equity, and inclusion programs; withdrew the United States from the Paris agreement; renamed the Gulf of Mexico; raised the cost of prescription drugs for seniors on Medicare and Medicaid; pardoned 1,500 convicted felons who stormed our Capitol and violently assaulted our police officers on January 6, 2021; and created a special fake department for shadow president Elon Musk. Wait. None of those executive orders lowered costs, let alone meaningfully improved the lives of the American people. I urge the President to stop treating the White House like his Twitter account and get to work fixing the problems he was elected to solve.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, my heart goes out to all the Angelenos who have been affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles County. It has been heartbreaking to learn of those who lost their lives and to witness the devastation of entire neighborhoods. I also want to extend my gratitude to the firefighters, first responders, and local officials who have been working tirelessly around the clock to combat the wildfires. Their heroism and bravery has been inspiring. I know that because of their efforts, these wildfires will soon be contained. There is no doubt that their swift action saved lives. I join Senators Padilla, Schiff, and 46 of my Democratic and Republican colleagues urging President Biden to grant Governor Gavin Newsom's request for a major disaster declaration. Thankfully, the President approved the Governor's request, and California has secured multiple fire management assistance grants from FEMA to ensure vital resources are available for local, State, and Tribal agencies. However, these grants are not enough. I am also appalled by the recent calls from the other side to condition aid on a debt limit deal. Now is not the time to politicize this crisis. I strongly urge House leadership to immediately bring a supplemental spending bill to California's efforts to combat this fire and make Angelenos whole again.

Mr. CISNEROS

Mr. CISNEROS. Mr. Speaker, today I stand here humbled and honored to have had the opportunity to serve the people of California's 39th District in the 116th Congress. When I was 18, I wanted to serve my country, so I joined the United States Navy, and that is what I have done for most of my adult life: I have served to help both my country and others. As a Representative of the 39th District, I am proud of the high level of engagement, accessibility, and visibility I have had with my constituents. I was able to bring back over $367 million to the district for our schools, job creation programs, fire departments, resources to combat homelessness, and COVID-19 relief. Our district office recovered over $550,000 for constituents through casework and helped 419 constituents resolve their Federal issues, from Social Security to Medicare benefits to immigration casework and Veterans Affairs healthcare. We have responded to over 119,000 constituent letters and participated in over 250 community events. I hosted 30 townhalls over the past 2 years. At the start of this pandemic, my team swiftly changed their operations to respond to every concern and question that came through, working tirelessly day and night to help the 39th District get through this pandemic. Their commitment and dedication to public service knows no limit. We raised the bar significantly and set the standard of what representation should look like for the 39th District. We delivered, because anything less would have been unacceptable. From California to Washington, D.C., I listened to constituents, worked across the aisle, and turned problems into legislative action. I voted to protect the Affordable Care Act, preserve protections for preexisting conditions, and lower the price of prescription drug costs. I also helped secure House passage of H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks bill, to bring us closer to ending this gun violence epidemic and keeping our communities safe. For the first time in over 25 years, the CDC received funding to research gun safety, a significant step for our country. As a Navy veteran and member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, I have worked across party lines to improve access to benefits for our veterans. We got the blue water Navy bill passed and signed into law to help our veterans, like my father, who was exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam war. Just recently, my bipartisan bill to prevent veteran suicide and substance use problems was signed into law within a larger landmark veterans' mental healthcare bill. I am proud of the work I was able to do on the Armed Services Committee to protect our servicemembers and their families. I am proud of the work I have done to diversify our officer corps, protect military children from child abuse, and fight sexual harassment and assault in our military. In the House, we have also passed legislation to protect our Dreamers, lift the SALT cap, support small businesses, and strengthen voting rights, which is what the American people want. But the work must continue to help those things become law. There is so much more that needs to be done. It has become abundantly clear that partisan gridlock is preventing Congress and the Federal Government from doing its job. What I am most proud of is when this House came together to get things done for the American people. We came together to pass great bipartisan legislation like the blue water Navy bill. At the beginning of this pandemic, we came together as a House, a Congress, and as a government to pass legislation that was beneficial to the American people and businesses. That type of collaboration is what the American people want to see, and it is what they should expect. We are still in the middle of this pandemic, and families, workers, and businesses are being left behind, and this legislative body must come together again to prevent that from happening. In the end, we must remember and never forget that we are here to serve the American people. As I conclude, I just want to take this opportunity to say thank you. No one ever does anything alone, so I want to thank my wife, Jacki, and my boys, Alexander and Christopher, for their love and support. I want to thank my staff in D.C. and in the district. I can't tell you how many times I was told by so many people how responsive and wonderful they all were to work with. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank the people of the 39th District for allowing me to serve as their Representative. Those who know me know that I am a big baseball fan and a big Dodger fan. One of my favorite baseball players, the legendary Jackie Robinson, once said: ``A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.'' I do not know what the future holds for me, but I can assure you this, Mr. Speaker: I will continue to work to have a positive impact on others' lives for both my community and my country.