Sarah Elfreth

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Madam Speaker, on March 13, the Department of Defense issued new guidance: Military health clinics overseas would no longer provide rape test kits to American civilian workers and contractors serving alongside our servicemembers abroad. These are our intelligence analysts, our teachers, our doctors, and our support staff performing critical roles all in support of our national security. We broke a fundamental promise with them, that when you serve your country in the most dangerous of places, your country will have your back. I have spent my time on this House floor urging for the reversal of harmful cuts just like these, and I spend my time in committee questioning Secretary Hegseth as to why this policy was ever changed in the first place. Today, I am glad to report that 8 days after the hearing with Secretary Hegseth, that policy has been reversed. It is proof that when the general public leans in and engages their government, and when Members of Congress amplify their voices, we can make meaningful change. I will continue to call out the cuts of this Trump administration because the cost to all of us is far too great. There is too much at risk when this administration blindly takes a sledgehammer to the Federal Government and the services Americans deserve. I urge my colleagues to follow this example.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, last month, Maryland lost a son, brother, grandson, teammate, mentor, and friend, Darren Foxwell, far too early. Darren grew up playing Little League and working as a camp counselor at the YMCA. He had just graduated from Easton High School, ready to start college and take the first steps in his beautifully bright future this fall. At just 18, he was already described by his peers as kind when no one was watching and with maturity and wisdom beyond his years. Yet, on an early Tuesday morning in June, the world lost Darren in a tragic car accident. Darren's family has asked me to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the first responders on Maryland's Eastern Shore and the nurses and doctors at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, who, they described, ``treated him with urgency and dignity, and cared for us like family . . . even when they knew he wasn't going to make it.'' I add my gratitude to the best-in-the-world trauma system and its passionate team for their tireless work to save Darren's life, just as they work tirelessly to save the lives of thousands of patients every year, bringing that same compassion, urgency, and tenacity to heal those facing the worst emergencies imaginable. May we carry Darren's loved ones--his sister, Colleen; his parents, Kerry and Len; his grandparents; and his teammates and friends--in our hearts.

Ms. ELFRETH

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

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, 7 years ago, on June 28, 2018, a gunman who should never have been able to purchase a firearm, walked into the Capital Gazette and killed five members of our hometown newspaper: Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters. Amid the shock and horror, just hours after the shooting, the Capital issued a simple statement: We are putting out a damn paper tomorrow, and that they did. These journalists made clear that the fourth estate cannot be silenced, and they made Maryland damn proud. On this tragic anniversary, I will make it clear on this House floor that as elected officials, we were not sent here to look away, to give up, or to offer our thoughts and prayers alone. That is why I rise today to remember the journalists we lost, to continue the fight for full freedom of the press, and for commonsense gun safety legislation that protects all of our communities.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Eric Amick as he prepares for retirement after more than 23 years of service to the U.S. House of Representatives. Eric was born in Cumberland, Maryland. In 1976, he graduated from Bishop Walsh High School. After high school, Eric attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where in 1980, he earned a bachelor's degree in computer science. After college, Eric worked as a software engineer for S3 Technologies, NeuraITech, and Banktech. In August 2002, Eric joined the Legislative Computer Systems, a division of the Office of the Clerk, as a software engineer. During his tenure, Eric worked on numerous mission critical applications, including the Electronic Voting System (EVS), the xMetaL, Member Information System (MIS), and most recently the Legislative Information Management system (LIMS). Eric's expertise in House documents and legislative data has been critical to many of the behind-the-scenes legislative activities that help this institution run smoothly. Eric has dedicated 23 years of his professional career to the Office of the Clerk. He has worked under six Speakers of the House: the Honorables J. Dennis Hastert, Nancy Pelosi, John A. Boehner, Paul D. Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, and now, Mike Johnson. In addition, Eric has worked for five Clerks of the House: the Honorables Jeff Trandahl, Karen L. Haas, Lorraine C. Miller, Cheryl L. Johnson, and Kevin F. McCumber. Post retirement, Eric is looking forward to his next chapter of adventures. He plans to spend more time with his lifelong hobby, which includes trivia, crossword puzzles, and board games. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the U.S. House of Representatives, I want to thank Eric Amick for his wonderful service to this institution.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, this Gun Violence Prevention Month, I rise today to bring attention to the leading cause of death for children and teens in this country, which is firearms. The reason we know that firearms are the leading cause of death for children is because of scientists and researchers at government agencies like the Centers For Disease Control. Over the years, the CDC has advanced our Nation's public health through recommendations to improve things like vehicle design, smoke detectors, and bicycle helmets. Yet this administration is now decimating CDC offices including the Division of Violence Prevention and the Division of Injury Prevention. Mr. Speaker, as legislators, we have a shared responsibility to advance policies to keep our communities safe, but we cannot do that without good science and good data. We simply cannot understand the scope and the depth of the gun violence epidemic without the CDC doing its job. That is why myself and House Democrats will fight for our world-class scientists, researchers, and health professionals every single day.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, 1.4 million meals have been lost at local food banks across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., because of the shortsighted funding cuts to the Department of Agriculture. That is 1.4 million times in the last few months alone when our neighbors couldn't get a meal when they were in need. Maybe they opted to stretch one meal into two or decided to go to bed hungry so that they could afford rent. Our food banks are there for our neighbors on their hardest days. Today, they are raising the alarm as they see record-high demand alongside very low unemployment. Instead of solving this dire hunger problem, the Trump administration is now slashing critical funds to USDA. It is rare to have a hat trick in public policy: a program that helps our small farmers, supports our food banks, and gets healthy food into schools. Yet, this administration is cutting the very funding that food banks and local schools utilize to purchase food at farms, and they are leaving our neighbors and kids with fewer healthy, affordable options. Mr. Speaker, I cannot think of a more American program that serves our communities, and that is why I will continue to fight for our food banks and our neighbors.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, the Trevor Project estimates that at least one LGBTQ+ youth attempts suicide every 45 seconds. That is less time than my remarks will take today. Instead of addressing this very real public health crisis that our Nation's youth face, the Trump administration has issued a budget proposal that seeks to eliminate funding for specialized crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has saved countless lives. Mr. Speaker, when you call that lifeline, you have the option to seek care via a specialist. Those specialists serve veterans, callers who speak Spanish, and LGBTQ+ youth. Mr. Speaker, 1.2 million Americans have selected that last option, but it might not be an option for much longer. The service has saved lives and allowed Americans to receive the care they need on the hardest days of their lives. To me, that is what public service is all about. It is about being there for folks on their hardest days. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and this administration to support full funding for these lifesaving services.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, local law enforcement officers bravely and tirelessly work to protect our communities day in and day out. The situations that these law enforcement officers encounter put them, as we all know, at an increased risk of developing mental health disorders, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. This Police Week, I thank the sponsors of the bill, my colleagues across the aisle, for introducing H.R. 2240, the Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act. I did offer an amendment to require that the Department of Justice include recommendations on improving training programs for domestic violence cases because far too often our local law enforcement officers are at the front lines of response to domestic violence cases. These situations not only need to be handled carefully with specialized training, but they also take a toll on officers' own well-being. While this amendment was not made in order, I rise today because I believe it is essential to address the issues of domestic violence and the mental health of our officers in a bipartisan manner. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle in addressing this critical need and continuing to address these issues together.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I stand here on the House floor as an American proudly and profoundly shaped by the wonder and joy of public television. Mister Rogers taught us how to be a good neighbor. Bill Nye inspired us to ask questions and never give up on the search for discovery. ``Sesame Street'' taught us how to read and count while instilling values of sharing and empathy. Mr. Speaker, I would be hard-pressed to find an American in this Nation whose childhood wasn't profoundly shaped by the magic of public television. For over 50 years, PBS has brought our kids educational, inspiring, and commercial-free media, but last week, the Trump administration issued an executive order slashing Federal funding to NPR and PBS, meaning that smaller stations would lose nearly half of their funding, posing an existential threat to the future of this media. I contend that the values that PBS taught us all are exactly the values we need in this moment and the values we could use right here in this Chamber: how to think critically, how to care for the Earth and one another with respect and dignity, how to count votes, how to resolve our differences with manners and empathy, all of which is why I continue to push for the reinstatement of these funds so that future generations can benefit as I did. I will be fighting for viewers like you.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to this administration's devastating cuts to FEMA's BRIC program, otherwise known as the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants. Towns like Crisfield in Maryland, Baltimore, and dozens of communities across this Nation, rely on this funding to ward off the very real and very devastating effects of flooding. Not only do these programs save lives, but it is also one of the best investments that this Federal Government can make in this country, matching State and local funding. These projects in the long-term save $6 for every $1 in upfront spending. Yet, on this Earth Day, and just before we are about to enter hurricane season, instead of protecting our communities from sea level rise, the Trump administration ended this program. When we talk about government cuts to environmental programs, I will caution that rising seas don't care who is in the White House. The water doesn't care how a small town that experiences 90 days of flooding or more a year voted in the last election. Flooding will continue to devastate communities, even if the President does not believe in climate change. That is why I will continue to fight for the reinstatement of these funds for Crisfield, for Maryland, and for every community affected by flooding across this country.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Mark Falkenhan, a Baltimore County volunteer firefighter and Secret Service agent who perished on the third floor of an apartment building in 2011. I rise on behalf of Nathan Flynn, a Howard County firefighter who tragically died in the basement of a large house fire in 2018. I rise on behalf of Frederick County firefighter Captain Josh Laird, who we lost in 2022 when he, too, fell through a floor and into a basement fire. After each of these tragedies and tragedies just like them across this country, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, or NIOSH, produced a report examining what went wrong and, crucially, how to prevent these tragedies from occurring moving forward. Those reports went on to save untold lives. In Mark's case, the NIOSH report spurred a new emphasis on identifying and communicating the presence of a basement upon first arrival. In Nathan's case, the NIOSH report exposed how outdated practices in building ventilation and fire flow management were killing firefighters across the country, ushering in nationwide changes in fire ground operations. In Josh's case, the NIOSH report was instructive in identifying and operating over a basement fire. Maryland's fire community, like so many in our country, is small and well-connected. Each fatality is felt widely and personally. Following a tragedy, it can be difficult without the proper technical resources to make accurate and objective recommendations and changes, which is why the NIOSH investigations and reports are so crucial. These NIOSH reports are critical for firefighting communities in Maryland and around our country because they save lives. When released, crews across this country gather around kitchen tables and read the reports together. In Maryland, our firefighters have told me that in those moments and for the first time they were able to walk through an incident guided by photographs, construction drawings, timetables, graphs, and supporting scientific evidence and that recommendations from these reports can be revolutionary to how they fight fires and save lives. NIOSH produces these reports through its Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, which was already significantly understaffed, with only five investigators investigating these incidents across the Nation. At this staffing level, it would take up to 4 years to thoroughly research and release a report after each line- of-duty death. That was until 2 months ago. Under the banner of government efficiency and the claim to reduce waste, DOGE has fired three of the five investigators, which means longer wait times for our first responders who deserve answers as to how their brothers and sisters died in the line of duty and, critically, what changes need to be made to prevent such a death moving forward. Another victim of the reckless work of DOGE was the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, which tracked cancer cases and deaths of firefighters. Cancer is now the leading cause of death for firefighters, and this database was critical to tracking health and safety improvements for firefighters and improving working conditions. In another sweeping effort to cut costs, DOGE eliminated the entire office. Now, this cancer registry is no longer maintained or updated. When the President talks about DOGE and government efficiency, I am thinking about the firefighters whose lives he is putting in harm's way. We owe it to firefighters across this country who sacrifice so much to keep our families safe. At the very least, we can be there for them when they are exposed to cancer or lose members to line-of-duty deaths. These jobs are difficult and inherently dangerous, but they do not need to be deadly. These actions by the administration are cruel and unsafe. This is not what the American people wanted. This is not what they voted for. Lost in this desperate mission to cut costs at all costs, we have forgotten the greater public good, the public good that government must maintain and deliver for our constituents, our obligations to one another, and, most importantly, our obligation to those who run into burning buildings and who keep our communities safe. The Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program and the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer are the Federal Government at its best. These civil servants who serve our first responders should not just be reinstated. Frankly, their offices should be doubled. Perhaps these positions were eliminated as an oversight. Perhaps these hardworking, passionate civil servants were merely line items on a budget to some cost-cutter who didn't know any better. That is why I rise today to give voice to these cuts, to put faces to these draconian measures, and to plead with my colleagues across the aisle and with the President himself to do what is right. Restore these offices. Reinstate these civil servants. Protect and serve those who protect and serve us.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, Commander Janie L. Mines was the first African-American woman to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1980. Commander Kristine Holderied, a Howard County native, was the first woman to graduate as valedictorian not only from the Naval Academy but from any service academy, in 1984. Midshipman Kristen Dickmann, a Naval Academy freshman and volleyball player, tragically passed away at the age of 19 in 2008. Her memory is now honored every single year, for over the last decade, via a tournament in her honor. Midshipman 1st Class Sydney Barber, the Naval Academy's first African-American female brigade commander, earned that honor not even 5 years ago, in 2020. I share these names and stories because these are women and women of color who are an integral part of the rich history of the United States Naval Academy that I have the privilege of representing. It is not just the Naval Academy. They represent our military and, proudly, our Nation. I want to be clear that this administration's unrelenting and reckless attack on the stories and the history of persistence, diversity, and opportunity only serves to set us back. When faculty at our five world-class service academies are told to avoid divisive concepts like racism and sexism, that only threatens to erase the stories and experiences of these brave women who just wanted to serve our great Nation. I strongly believe that we should have a Navy and Marine Corps that look like our country, where our midshipmen receive an education that teaches the accurate and full history of this Nation, where the stories of women and people of color aren't skipped over because they are inconvenient. This is all critical to our national security and strong democratic principles that we embody abroad. It is for these women and the hundreds of thousands of women serving our Nation at home and abroad that I am here today.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to S.J. Res. 11. As has been said, historic artifacts serve as evidence of ancient civilizations. They teach us about the development of science, trade, transportation, and culture. So many of these artifacts are buried on the seafloor from shipwrecks and storms to indigenous artifacts. When that seabed is disturbed, these priceless pieces of history get damaged or destroyed. More importantly, they cost the company seeking to do this work more money when they disturb these artifacts and are faced with fines and cleanup like the Mica shipwreck, which was bisected by a pipeline in 2001. It cost ExxonMobil $250,000 in fees to mitigate the damage it caused that could have been found from the beginning had there been a consistent survey, saving that company money. This is not new. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has had guidelines on marine archeology since 1982, and since have been updated during administrations from both parties to create greater consistency and predictability for everyone involved. These rules have stood for 40 years because they protect artifacts and protect the oil and gas companies from the liability of unknowingly destroying irreplaceable pieces of history. Each update to the rules has served to codify industry practice, use the best available science, and ensure compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act. Each update has provided oil and gas companies with more clarity and consistency. S.J. Res. 11 seeks not only to undo all of that work that has been done, but it will prohibit such a rule from ever being enacted in the future. Counter to some arguments, this rule is not financially burdensome. BOEM reports the total annualized financial impact for the entire oil industry is less than $400,000 a year. For an industry with a reported pretax profit of $83.9 billion in 2024, this has a negligible impact. The rule does not negatively impact America's energy dominance and independence. The U.S. is still the number one producer of oil and gas in the world and has been since 2009. We are producing more oil than any country ever. In fact, we are exporting energy, which is what is really hurting American energy prices. This rule didn't even meet the threshold to require a Statement of Energy Effects report because it has such a negligible possibility of impacting energy supply, distribution, or use. This rule actually promotes efficiency as has been stated. It provides consistency to businesses and protects oil and gas companies from that liability. Doing these surveys before drilling saves time and money in the long run. It is much more damaging to a company's bottom line to stop operations suddenly when they find a shipwreck or artifacts. Nobody gets everything they want in the public policy that we debate on this floor, but this final rule, at the beginning of the day, is a good policy that benefits every stakeholder involved, and banning this rule would set a dangerous precedent for solutions-oriented policymaking. It will roll back decades of bipartisan work that we have all done to preserve history. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to consider the cost of this action, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on S.J. Res. 11.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, as a proud gentlewoman from Maryland, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Frank Turner, a distinguished educator and public servant whom we lost earlier this year. In 1990, Frank made history by becoming the first Black judge in Howard County, Maryland. Then in 1994, he became the first African American elected to the general assembly from Howard County where he served with distinction for 24 years. After his time in the legislature, he served his community further as a trustee of Howard Community College. Frank will forever be remembered for his generosity and kindness, his thoughtfulness and his skill, but above all, for his unwavering commitment to his community, Howard County, which stays with me and so many Marylanders. He led a life of unparalleled service, and for that we will ever be grateful. Mr. Speaker, I am personally keeping his family, his friends, and every life that he ever touched through his good works in my prayers.

Ms. ELFRETH

Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, 44,000 civil servants--hardworking, qualified, passionate public servants--call Maryland's Third Congressional District home. In the last week, thousands have reached out to my office. They were concerned, anxious, and wondering if their government actually values the work they do on behalf of the American people. It is clear that, through the fork-in-the-road email that 2.2 million Federal employees received in attempts to expand Schedule F, President Trump and Elon Musk are trying to remove civil servants from the civil service. Instead, they want to fill our Federal workforce and put lifesaving services for the American people in the hands of unqualified political cronies in a modern-day spoils system. The irony, of course, is that the civil service was created to avoid this situation. The Congress recognized that cronyism and corruption did not serve the American people, and Congress did something in 1883 to create a merit-based civil service system. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, as the proud daughter of two civil servants, and as a proud member of the Labor Caucus, I stand here appalled by this administration's changing of the rules on these workers. Everyone in my district and every Federal worker in this Nation should know that House Democrats have their backs.