Rosa DeLauro

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I experienced unavoidable travel delays today returning to Washington from my district. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 356, NAY on Roll Call No. 357, and YEA on Roll Call No. 358.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague, Congressman Espaillat, for his work on this bill, and I want to associate myself with his words about our colleague Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. I believe that we all are inspired by Jennifer, and for me I will just say she is the face of courage, of tenacity, of determination, and, in fact, she is someone who was elected to this office and knows why she came to serve. She serves every single day in the face of great adversity. I thank Jennifer. Let me first congratulate Chairman Valadao on reaching this milestone in his first year as chair of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, and I thank him and Ranking Member Espaillat for their hard work on this effort, and to the majority and minority staff for their work on this bill, especially Faye Cobb and Raquel Spencer. As I said when we marked this bill up in committee, this bill is not far removed from one that I would support. It builds upon our investments in the legislative branch that have enabled us to better serve the American people. Unfortunately, the majority has included harmful policy riders that hurt our ability to attract and retain diverse and talented staff, unwind important measures that ensure we are doing our part to protect the environment, and undo sensible, historical restrictions in statute on compensation for outside work for certain Members of Congress. Partisan policies in this bill hurt our ability to attract and retain talented staff, and every one of us knows that it is our staff who keeps our name on the door. The bill would create a license to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and block diversity and inclusion programs, and I remain frustrated that we continue to bar DACA recipients from employment in the legislative branch. These policies all make it harder for us to build a congressional workforce as diverse and talented as the country that they serve. A strong and well-functioning legislative branch is essential to ensuring the House of Representatives can do the work Americans sent us here to do. If we cannot create an environment where staff of all backgrounds feel safe and welcome, we will not be able to serve the American people in the ways that they expect and deserve. The bill also includes a provision that would allow medical and dental professionals serving in the Congress to receive compensation for outside work in addition to their congressional salary, opening the door to changing the rules we must all follow when it comes to external professions, unfairly benefiting certain Members, and potentially creating conflicts of interest. This body considers legislation touching every single facet of the economy, including healthcare. We should be focusing on helping people, not doing the job of authorizers or the Ethics Committee to amend current law to help a select few Members receive outside income. The bill's reasonable funding levels are proof that House Republicans are capable of writing bills that can get bipartisan support and have a path to becoming law--if they could simply abandon their obsession with partisan riders which they know will be removed from the final agreement. A clean version of this bill could pass with strong support from both Democrats and Republicans, but at this time I cannot support this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote against it. I hope Republicans will reconsider their strategy. Please join us at the table to support our staff, our constituents, and workers and families around this country. Above all, it is time to govern.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Republican majority's Defense appropriations bill. First, I would also like to thank the majority and minority staff, particularly Jennifer Chartrand and Jason Gray for their efforts, and I extend my deep thanks to Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum for their work on this bill. Unfortunately, I cannot support this bill at this time. With this bill, Congress has the unique and solemn responsibility of appropriating the funds necessary to defend and to protect our Nation. I come from a defense-dependent State. I understand the importance of making investments and the kinds of investments we make in this bill, but this bill still does not advance our national defense capabilities. There is a path laid out for us to responsibly strengthen America's national security and support our armed servicemembers. Instead, under the majority's partisan process, we are considering a bill that promotes chaos in Congress over prioritizing our national security, which sows division instead of supporting our servicemembers' morale and unity. This bill undermines democracy here and around the world, and it disarms our military in the face of the climate crisis. Especially in an election year, we should not consider legislation that would neutralize the Department of Defense's ability to counter disinformation campaigns when we know foreign actors and our adversaries are seeking to meddle in our elections and our democratic processes. Why, after this Congress has repeatedly demonstrated broad bipartisan support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian tyranny, are we considering a bill that fails to fund the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, rewarding Russia? In addition to fighting Russian aggression, USAI helps Ukraine integrate with NATO and Western forces, directly supporting our broader national security and defense objectives. Recklessly, this bill ignores our military leaders. Even under President Trump, our military acknowledged and warned about the dangers of climate change, what it poses to our national security, our military assets, and our servicemembers around the world. Secretary Mattis said in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee: ``Climate change is impacting stability in areas of the world where our troops are operating today. It is appropriate for the Combatant Commands to incorporate drivers of instability that impact the security environment in their areas into their planning.'' We ought to be ensuring our military's readiness and adaptability in the face of a changing climate and worsening disasters, not denying the scientific and strategic reality of the threats that we face. Finally, this bill contains a laundry list of partisan proposals that divide Americans and divide the Congress, including provisions that hurt women and LGBTQ+ servicemembers and obstruct diversity efforts. It furthers Republicans' goal of making abortion illegal nationally by making it harder for women in our military to obtain reproductive care. No woman deserves to have her healthcare and family planning decisions made by politicians, but especially those who have put their lives on the line to protect Americans' rights and freedoms. Every servicemember who wears our Nation's flag is a critical piece of our national defense. American servicemembers come from all over the country and the world. The sum of their skills, their determination, their experiences, and their perspectives is the greatest asset our military has. Fostering an environment where every American, who would willingly put their lives on the line to protect and serve this Nation, feels that they are welcome and supported should not be controversial. These policy riders do not belong in appropriations bills, and like last year, we will defeat them, but it is disappointing that we are going through this charade again just months after Republicans and Democrats voted for the 2024 appropriations bills. Looking across all 12 appropriations bills, the majority is failing to meet the agreement signed into law. The Democrats will accept nothing less than a 1 percent increase over 2024 in defense and nondefense funding. That is what the law provides for. I cannot support this bill. I urge my colleagues to focus on the end goal of funding our government and preserving America's military strength rather than pushing messaging bills that have no future. Please join us at the table to protect our national security and our military readiness. It is time to govern.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the Republican majority's Homeland Security appropriations bill. First, I wish to thank the subcommittee staff in the majority and minority for their efforts, especially Bob Joachim and Shannon McCully. I also thank the ranking member for yielding time. This Homeland Security bill fails to secure the border and instead stokes chaos and disorder, wasting hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars along the way. The House majority has rejected every serious legislative effort to address and lessen the crisis at the border. They rejected one of the toughest bipartisan border bills in history that had a viable path to passage, pronouncing it dead without any debate. When the President asked for additional resources to secure the border, my colleagues across the aisle ignored that as well, even after they told us that we had to ``take care of our border first'' before we could provide any funding to Ukraine and our other allies. Madam Chair, we provided the necessary funding to our allies, for which I am very grateful, but we failed our responsibilities to give Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement the resources needed to manage the crisis at the border and to stop our communities from being overwhelmed by a disorderly and outdated immigration system. Democrats were ready to consider the bipartisan solution that had been reached by the United States Senate negotiators, but at the eleventh hour, it was the other side of the aisle that insisted that it could no longer support securing our border as part of the national security package. They would not even let us debate the bill. Let me point out what policies the majority rejected and left on the table: one, establishing a border emergency authority to shut down the border when our system gets overwhelmed; two, ending the widespread releases of recent border crossers by establishing and funding noncustodial government supervision for those eligible to remain and a rapid consequence system for those who are not; three, closing loopholes in our asylum system that are exploited by criminal cartels; four, funding 50,000 detention beds; five, funding additional agents and officers for Customs and Border Protection; and the list goes on. That bipartisan legislation was supported by the National Border Patrol Council, which is the Border Patrol agents' own union, the Chamber of Commerce, and the South Texas Alliance of Cities. As far as being serious about solving anything at all, the bill before us is simply a facade. In the midst of a crisis situation at our southern border, the majority's bill cuts border security operations by $2.1 billion. It is a 25 percent cut from fiscal year 2024. Are they serious about border security when they cut $2.1 billion? The bill wastes taxpayer money on impractical border measures and ineffective barriers. This bill withholds the resources needed to manage the border, to process and vet the increased number of people arriving in the United States, and to support border communities and cities that are receiving migrants across the country. Why would we not want to help our border communities and our cities, the very places in our districts confronting this crisis? This is a missed opportunity to support humane pathways and processes for people who require and are legally entitled to refuge in our country, and it is a missed opportunity to reinforce our security, our preparedness, and our response capabilities. The majority's bill weakens our national security with inadequate cyber and infrastructure security investments and by failing to counter extremism. The bill specifically restrains the government's ability to counter disinformation campaigns, which are being used by global adversaries and foreign actors seeking to undermine our elections. The majority's Homeland Security bill once again includes dozens of pointless and cruel policy riders that harm women, divide Americans, divide the Congress, and create chaos. We all know the final funding bills will require bipartisan negotiations to make sound investments, but the majority's process is driving Congress toward further chaos, dysfunction, and shutdown threats. Madam Chair, I ask that the majority please reconsider the path they are on. When they do, I look forward to improving this bill so that we can manage our border responsibly and invest in programs that make our country more secure. It is time for the majority to govern. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this bill.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Republican majority's State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. First, I would also like to thank the majority and minority staff, especially Erin Kolodjeski, Laurie Mignone, and Stephanie Reed. I also want to acknowledge Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Barbara Lee for their work on the bill. It is difficult to imagine this entire institution without Congresswoman Barbara Lee. As ranking member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Congresswoman Lee has been a unique and effective advocate for America wielding influence on the global stage. Our soft power, our ability to bring other nations together for the common purposes of democracy, freedom, and human rights, is as critical to our freedom and prosperity as our defense capabilities. I thank Congresswoman Lee for all that she has done for California and for our Nation. To the bill, much like last year, the fiscal year 2025 State and Foreign Operations bill resurrects the doomed isolationism of the early 20th century. Just a few months after Democrats and Republicans voted for final bipartisan 2024 funding bills, the majority proposes that we decimate the State and Foreign Operations bill with a 12 percent cut. Let us take stock for a moment. Around the globe, America's adversaries threaten the peace and prosperity of the free world. With wars in the Middle East and Europe and humanitarian crises on nearly every continent, the world is yearning for American leadership. Not since the Cold War have our diplomatic influence and soft power been more critical to keeping Americans safe, yet House Republicans have proposed a bill that would diminish America's world leadership and obstruct our ability to support our allies, to deter our adversaries, to surpass our competitors, to maximize our influence, and to continue leading the free world. Whether we are talking about our diplomatic strength, economic investments, or humanitarian assistance, this bill unravels the hard- fought credibility and influence we have earned to be global leaders. This bill threatens our national security, it threatens women's health globally, it hampers our response to the climate crisis, undermines our diplomatic corps by underfunding the State Department and USAID, and completely blocks support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency--the backbone of getting humanitarian assistance to Gazans in need and jeopardizes relief for refugees in Lebanon and in Jordan--leaving behind some of the most vulnerable people facing the most unthinkable conditions in the world. The majority's bill is, yet again, diminishing the global standing of the United States and what we stand for, what our values are, for our own people and for people around the world who look to America, the world's largest economy and oldest constitutional democracy, for inspiration and, yes, for hope. This bill abdicates U.S. leadership at the United Nations and other multilateral and international institutions by not including any funding for the U.N. regular budget, the U.N. Development Program, U.N. Women, and for UNICEF, as well. By withdrawing from these organizations, we will allow our competitors and our adversaries to take our place and to replace our influence on the global stage. By shortchanging USAID at a time when a historic number of people are facing conflict and instability, we are failing to live up to America's ideals. A wide gamut of nonprofit, faith-based, and advocacy organizations have issued stark warnings of what this bill portends for America's global leadership and national security. The Global Health Council led a group of 62 organizations in saying that this bill ``falls woefully short of the funding necessary to address global converging crises and would signal a cessation of U.S. leadership and influence on the world stage.'' Later, at the appropriate time, I will submit this compilation for inclusion in the Congressional Record. Our starting point for 2025 must provide, and Democrats will accept nothing less than, a 1 percent increase in defense and nondefense funding consistent with the framework set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act that Republicans demanded. Any increase for defense beyond that 1 percent must be matched with nondefense investments. As we proved together this spring, final spending bills will be the product of negotiations between Democrats and the Republicans in the House and Senate. For all of these reasons, I cannot support this bill. For the sake of our national security, for women's health globally, and our response to the climate crisis, Republicans must abandon this reckless and partisan path and join Democrats at the table. It is time to govern.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude that I rise today to extend my thanks and best wishes to John Fisher, the former Executive Director of New Haven's Shubert Theater. For more than two decades, John led this theatrical landmark with a unique dedication and commitment. Tonight, friends, colleagues and community leaders have gathered to thank him for that leadership and celebrate his contributions to the New Haven arts community. John's professional career has been dedicated to the arts. Prior to coming to New Haven, he spent six years as the general manager of the Big Apple Circus before spending two years in Atlanta as Director of Satellite Olympic Villages for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. He arrived in New Haven in 1997 where he began his career with the Shubert as its general manager. When the Shubert's ownership was transferred from the City of New Haven to the Connecticut Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA), a decade-long process through which John guided and nurtured the historic theater, he became the Executive Director. He would hold this position until his retirement at the end of 2020. Prior to John's arrival, New Haven's Shubert Theater had been experiencing extreme financial pressures and was in need of serious capital improvements. While it was beloved by the community, the City, which owned it at the time, was not in the position to support the kind of financial investment that was needed. It was John who saw the benefits of transitioning ownership to CAPA and it was his leadership that saw it through. Over the course of his twenty-four years with the Shubert, John built a strong foundation for the theater, not only by bringing season after season of engaging and exciting performances, but also by building strong partnerships that not only strengthened the Shubert but New Haven's vibrant arts community as a whole. He expanded the theater's community footprint through collaborations with the Board of Education, Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School, the New Haven Free Public Library, as well as arts institutions like the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, the New Haven Ballet, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and Yale Opera. John's contributions to New Haven's arts community extend far beyond his professional career at the Shubert. He is a former commissioner and Chairman of the Coliseum Authority for New Haven and has been a board member of the New Haven Ballet, the Workforce Alliance, the Connecticut Arts Alliance, and the Arts Council of New Haven. Through all of these efforts, his good work has gone a long way in broadening community access to the arts, ensuring that its magic, artistry, and creativity is shared with new generations. For his innumerable and invaluable contributions, I am proud to stand today and extend my deepest thanks and sincere appreciation to John Fisher. I wish John and his wife, Liz, as well as their family all the best as they enjoy their retirement.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I thank the ranking member for yielding. I rise in opposition to this bill that shortchanges our servicemembers and endangers military families. Before I begin, I thank the majority and minority subcommittee staff, particularly Farouk Ophaso and Tyler Coe. After nearly 10 years on the committee, Jennifer Neuscheler departed at the end of May. In her place, Farouk is now the minority clerk for the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. I congratulate Farouk and welcome him to his first House floor debate as a subcommittee clerk. Now, to the bill. This bill would hurt our veterans and military readiness and would worsen the quality of life for servicemembers and their families. It leaves military installations, servicemembers, veterans, and their families vulnerable to natural disasters. It harms women and moves us closer to a national abortion ban. This bill disarms our military in the face of the climate crisis by failing to include dedicated funding for resilience projects to help protect our bases and installations from rising sea levels and extreme weather. The bill walks back investments in natural disaster recovery that help our military rebuild after disasters strike, and it includes harmful policy riders preventing the implementation of executive orders on climate change and clean energy. Impeding our military's efforts to confront climate change puts servicemembers in harm's way and hurts America's readiness and national security. Military leaders, including under former President Trump, have cautioned of the dangers climate change poses to our military. Former Secretary Mattis warned that climate change threatens American interests and our military assets around the world and said: ``Climate change is a challenge that requires a broader, whole-of-government response.'' This bill endangers veterans by recklessly undermining the ability to keep guns out of the hands of those prohibited under Federal law from purchasing or possessing firearms who could be a harm to themselves or others. This bill attacks the rights of women veterans by limiting abortion access and prohibiting abortion counseling. The women who volunteer to serve and defend this Nation should not come home to find their medical and family planning decisions being made by anyone other than themselves, their families, and their doctors. We will defeat all of the majority's anti-choice riders, as we did last year, but I am dismayed this body is being forced to waste time with this charade yet again. House Republicans are taking us down an already well-trodden path toward chaos, division, and shutdown threats. Like last year, we are beginning this process with top-line funding levels that fall short of the American people's needs and short of what both parties just agreed to in March, when 80 percent of the Appropriations Committee voted to pass the final 2024 appropriations acts. The majority is pursuing harmful policies that needlessly divide the country, divide the Congress, and harm Americans. Like last year, the final 2025 spending bills will be the product of negotiations between Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate. We can begin that process now, or we can squander yet another summer on bills that will never become law. Our starting point for 2025 must provide, at a minimum, a 1 percent increase in defense and nondefense funding, consistent with the framework set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act that House Republicans demanded as the price for averting a catastrophic default last year. Let me reiterate: Democrats will accept nothing less than a 1 percent increase over 2024 in nondefense and defense funding. Last month, we received a letter from dozens of stakeholder organizations already frustrated by the House majority's stance, and it reads: ``We ask that you take the opportunity in FY25 to restore some normalcy by rejecting these extreme and polarizing provisions and cuts, which are as damaging as they are unrealistic.'' The majority may want to suggest they are supporting veterans, but this bill does not contain all of the programs the most vulnerable veterans depend on. At least 1.2 million veterans rely on food stamps. Tens of thousands of veterans rely on housing vouchers. Thousands of veterans utilize job training programs to reenter civilian life. All of these programs and many others face severe cuts under the majority's funding levels across all appropriations bills. I cannot support this bill. I hope Republicans will abandon their partisan strategy and join Democrats at the table to support veterans, servicemembers, and military families. It is time to govern.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chair, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted NO on Roll Call No. 227.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a specially crafted food that draws people from across the country to my hometown of New Haven, Connecticut. It is called apizza--after the original way ``la pizza'' was pronounced in southern Italy. For more than a century, New Haven has been home to some of the most famous pizzerias in the country, known for everything from a plain sauce to white clam to mashed potato. I proudly rise today to claim New Haven as the pizza capital of the United States. While there are other States that have their own pizza traditions, Connecticut has the most pizzerias of any State per capita and the most family-owned pizzerias of any State in the country. There is something special about New Haven apizza. Some say it is coal fire, some say brick ovens, some say it is char, some say it is the water used to make the dough. Personally, I believe it is the generation after generation of dedication to the craft. Historic pizzerias in the New Haven area that continue this legacy include: Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Modern Apizza, Zuppardi's Apizza, Sally's Apizza, Ernie's Apizza, Yorkside, BAR, Grand Apizza, and Zeneli Pizza, and Abate's Apizza just to name a few. They have helped to establish a uniquely American culinary and cultural experience, making New Haven one of the most respected and recognized pizza destinations in the country. New Haven apizza is more than just a delicious meal--it is a part of who we are as New Haveners and Nutmeggers. Earlier today, I joined Connecticut pizza makers, legislators, veterans, and community leaders to celebrate New Haven and recognize it as the pizza capital of the United States.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to join the members and supporters of the New Haven Oratorio Choir as they mark the 60th Anniversary of this exceptional organization. The New Haven Oratorio Choir is a community-based, auditioned chamber choir whose mission is to provide the New Haven region with unique and intimate choral performances, a repertoire chosen to inspire and inform performers and audiences alike. Indeed, the celebration of their 60th Anniversary includes an upcoming performance entitled ``Blossoms, Beasts, and Birds: Songs About Nature'' which will feature selections from renowned composers such as Britten, Copland, Whitacre, Gibbons, Price, and others. The choir was founded in 1963 when Allen Wolbrink, the then music director of the Church of the Redeemer, wanted to expand its Senior Choir. He did so by inviting singers from the larger community to join with the goal of performing larger works. At the time, the New Haven Chorale was the only area chorus open to all singers and with a membership of over one hundred, it did not offer the more spiritual experience Mr. Wolbrink envisioned. Originally named the Redeemer Oratorio Choir, over the course of its history, choir members have come from Greater New Haven and all over the world, all finding a community of belonging while they lived, went to school, or worked in the area. In fact, former members still reflect on the feeling of community they still have when remembering their time with the choir. In 1990, the choir was officially incorporated as the New Haven Oratorio Choir and when the Church of the Redeemer closed, they found a new home just down the road at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Today, the New Haven Oratorio Choir carries on the legacy of its founder, performing two concerts a year, each with a unique focus. Over its sixty-year history, there have been changes in performers, musical directors, and even their home base, but two features at the heart of the organization remain its foundation--a commitment to sacred music and an openness to all members of the community. As they celebrate this remarkable milestone, I am honored to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the New Haven Oratorio Choir and wish them all the best for many more successful years to come. As we say in Italian, ``C'ent Anni!''

Ms DeLAURO

Ms DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with my deepest thanks and sincere appreciation that I rise today to recognize William Samuel, the Director of Government Affairs at the AFL-CIO, as family, friends, and colleagues gather to wish him well as he marks his retirement from a decades long career fighting on behalf of America's working families. Bill has been an extraordinary leader, advocate and friend. And, while I have no doubt that he will continue to stay engaged, the AFL-CIO and the labor movement will not be the same without him. A graduate of Oberlin College and the George Washington University Law Center, Bill knew early on that he wanted to focus his professional life on labor law. He began his career as a legislative representative for the National Treasury Employees Union and the American Federation of Government Employees, representing federal employees across a multitude of agencies. Bill went on to serve as the chief lobbyist at the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). At the time, the UMWA had not found its voice and he helped to turn that around. For Bill, the fight to ensure safe working conditions, fair wages, and secure health and retirement benefits has always been a core value. It is his deep commitment to those values that have guided his career. That was perhaps most profoundly exemplified as Bill led the successful effort to pass federal legislation guaranteeing lifetime health benefits to hundreds of thousands of retired miners and their dependents. In doing so, he quite literally changed their lives. In 1995, Bill transitioned to federal service when he Joined the Clinton Administration, serving as associate deputy secretary of labor under Secretaries Robert Reich and Alexis Herman. In 2000, Bill became senior policy adviser to Vice President Al Gore, a role in which he was both a principal adviser on labor policy issues and liaison to organized labor. This professional diversion allowed him the opportunity to shape and implement policies that he had long advocated for. Following his federal service, Bill returned to the labor movement, joining the AFL-CIO where he served as the Director of Government Affairs for nearly twenty-five years. Made up of 55 affiliated unions and representing more than 12.5 million working Americans, it takes a unique combination of organization, insight, and leadership to work with such various entities to create a unified message and agenda. Bill has a unique talent for building consensus--a skill set which he has used throughout his career. Coordinating with each member union, engaging with leadership as well as rank and file, while also providing guidance and advocacy to Congressional Members and staff, Bill has built a distinguished reputation with all those who have had the opportunity to work with him. I, like many others, am so grateful to have benefited from his expertise and counsel. I thank him for that as well as his many years of friendship and support. In a professional career that has spanned more than six decades, Bill Samuel has left an indelible mark on the labor movement in America. Many of those whose lives have been improved by his work will never meet or know Bill. Throughout his career he has been a champion for working Americans, standing up time and time again to protect their rights to safe working conditions, fair and livable wages, as well as secure health and retirement benefits. Today, as he marks his retirement, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and deepest thanks to Bill for his outstanding service. My very best wishes to him, his wife, Tracy; and his children Jack and Lucy, for many more years of health and happiness as he begins this new life chapter.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time. Madam Speaker, today, Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. They struggle with the high cost of living and wages that are not rising fast enough to keep up. Instead of addressing the real challenges that face American families, my Republican colleagues are wasting time with messaging bills. Madam Speaker, the gentleman on the other side of the aisle may recall that for a recent continuing resolution, he voted against a billion dollars in aid to Israel. The gentleman from New York voted against a billion-dollar increase in aid to Israel. If we defeat the previous question, I will bring up H.R. 17, the Paycheck Fairness Act, to ensure women are paid fairly for their work. On average, a woman still earns only 84 cents for every dollar that a man makes, according to the American Association of University Women. The disparity is even worse for women of color. The pay gap exists in every State, regardless of geography, occupation, education, or work patterns. This is not just a problem for a few years out of a woman's career. It is a systemic disadvantage that compounds over a lifetime. This gap can put women hundreds of thousands of dollars behind in earnings over their careers and, in turn, severely reduce the amount they receive from Social Security, pensions, or investments after their working years are over. That puts more strain on working families and our safety net as a whole to support them in their older years. Unequal pay is not just an issue of fairness. It is a major economic burden on families across the country. America is in a cost-of-living crisis for many reasons. Families are living paycheck to paycheck. They can't pay their bills. They can't put food on the table. They can't get the healthcare they need for themselves and their families. This cost-of-living issue, if you continue to deal with unequal payment for women in our workforce, only adds to economic insecurity. The pay gap persists because of loopholes in the Equal Pay Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act fixes those loopholes by mandating better data collection, protecting employees against retaliation for discussing wages or salaries, and removing obstacles to lawsuits that challenge systemic discrimination. In short, it gives the Equal Pay Act the teeth that it needs to get the job done. At the end of the day, it is really this simple: Men and women in the same job deserve the same pay. It is true in the House of Representatives, but not true pretty much everywhere else in this country. If we truly believe that, we should act on it. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose the previous question and the rule.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I use today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of an outstanding member of the New Haven community and my dear friend, Lawrence Amendola. Larry was an extraordinary man who dedicated a lifetime of service to the City of New Haven, particularly the Wooster Square neighborhood we both called home. Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Larry enlisted in the United States Army after graduating from high school. Stationed in Germany for the majority of his military service, he was honorably discharged before returning to New Haven to begin his career. Larry spent his professional life as a civil servant, beginning his City employment at the CETA Program and later working for the Department of Parks and Recreation, retiring at the age of 75. Larry also served as President of AFSCME Local 3144 Management Union, one of City's largest unions, for over 20 years. It was in this role that he had the most impact--where he fought on behalf of hundreds of city employees, negotiating contracts that ensured good wages and health benefits as well as pension and retirement security. Larry understood better than most the benefits of the union and he worked tirelessly on behalf of those he represented. While Larry dedicated his professional life to the City of New Haven, he also dedicated much of his time and energy to the community as well. He served as Vice-President and President of the Saint Andrew the Apostle Society--one of the Italian American social organizations whose goal is to preserve and celebrate our shared Italian heritage. Larry served in these roles for more than 30 years and volunteered countless hours at the Society's annual festival. His work in the community was recognized when he was awarded the Steve Vuolo Award. I am fortunate in that I knew Larry for most of my life. He was a close family friend, having worked with both of my parents over the years. I had the opportunity to work with Larry early in my career. I was working with the Community Action Institute--at the Skill Center on Cedar Street--and Larry and I partnered to organize additional city employees. He was not only a friend, but a great mentor. I learned a lot from him and was always grateful for his support and friendship throughout my own career. Lawrence ``Larry'' Amendola was a remarkable member of our community. His passing leaves a hole in our community that will not easily be filled. I extend my deepest sympathies to his companion of nearly 20 years, Flora D'Elsi, as well as his many cherished nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews. His passion, advocacy, and commitment to service will long serve as an example to which we should all strive.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Ms. DeLAURO

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi), the ranking member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the CCP.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of the Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which will provide allies in the Indo-Pacific region with the support they need to counter China's aggressive and adversarial posture. The post-World War order, U.S. leadership, and our historic and strong allyship with Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines have created enduring peace and prosperity for much of the region. Retreating from Asia under the guise of putting ``America first'' would be a colossal mistake and would yield the fate of democracy and freedom in the Western Pacific to the whims of an autocratic Communist Government of the People's Republic of China. China is expanding its military capability at a rapid pace, and it is using its influence to suppress dissenters. We have already seen rollbacks of once ironclad rights and freedoms in places like Hong Kong. This bill provides $3.9 billion to support Taiwan and other allies and to replenish our own equipment stocks, as well as $3.3 billion for the AUKUS trilateral security partnership. The world is watching and waiting to see if the America that they know is ready to stand for freedom and democracy and against tyranny. It is up to us to show them that America, their trusted ally, is right here and that we have their back. We must demonstrate that our word can be counted on. Xi is watching. Our friends in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines are watching. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of time.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney), a member of the Armed Services Committee and ranking member on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan).

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Kamlager-Dove).

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I claim the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to the amendment.

Ms. DeLAURO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. At this juncture, I thank the former chair of the Appropriations Committee, our colleague, Kay Granger. It has really been my honor to serve with Congresswoman Granger. She has been a pioneer in so many ways. I have said it to many folks, and especially to the women who serve in this House: No one hands you anything here. You earn it. Kay Granger has earned every bit of the accolades and the titles she has received because she earned it, she deserves it, and she is an outstanding Member of this body. Madam Speaker, I would also say it is an honor to serve with Chairman Cole. I think it really is impressive that in the second week leading the committee, we are passing a long overdue supplemental to aid our allies. That is to his credit, and I thank him very much. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the distinguished Democratic whip and former member of the Appropriations Committee.