Lois Frankel

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, our International Military Education and Training programs provide significant national security benefits at a very low cost. They strengthen the ability of nations to partner with our Armed Forces in joint and coordinated operations. They help senior and rising military leaders from countries around the world build ties with the United States. They build the professionalism of foreign militaries, increasing respect for human rights, the rule of law, and democratic civilian control of military. Yet, many of our partners most in need of U.S. military training do not have the resources to pay for it themselves. Mr. Chair, I saw my son, a United States marine, go to two wars, and I know many of his fellow, I will call them colleagues, brave patriots, they didn't come home to their families, and I just want to say for those families, why would we want to undermine one of the most cost-effective tools we have for building our collective security? Why would we want to do anything that would keep our men and women going to war? General Donovan, commander of the United States Southern Command, said just this year: The return on investment in the International Military Education Training program is clear, with multiple program graduates going on to serve as ministers of defense and chiefs of defense. The trust and relationships built through these programs extend far beyond the engagements themselves and pay lasting dividends for our shared security and will save the lives of our brave men and women who serve our country. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I claim the time to oppose this prohibition for funding for military education and training unless reimbursed.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, the Fulbright Program is one of the most well-established and prestigious exchange programs in the world. Each year, the best and the brightest globally compete for spots to study in the United States or have American students experience and do research overseas. The proof is in the results. Fulbright alumni include--listen to this--44 heads of state, 63 Nobel Prize winners, 94 Pulitzer Prize winners, 83 MacArthur Fellows, and numerous national leaders. Each of these individuals and 450,000 more have had a life-changing experience being exposed to United States culture and values, affecting their impressions of our country for the rest of their lives. This is a smart investment. May I say, as my mother once said, this is penny-wise and pound-foolish. This is not just our investment. Mr. Chair, 89 foreign governments also contribute to sending their students to the United States with more than $90 million annually. Mr. Chair, this amendment is shortsighted, with all due respect. I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Tran).

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise in support and thank Mr. Diaz-Balart for working with me to include these bipartisan priorities in these amendments. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Sadly, this bill arrives at a time when the Trump administration has chosen to put us into a war that is costing our country billions of dollars and countless lives, with no end in sight. I hope I am wrong, but that is what it looks like. This bill should be a moment to strengthen America and show the world that American leadership is more than bombs, bullying, and illegal tariffs. Done right, it could make our Nation more secure, at home and abroad. Instead, it is falling painfully short. A strong America requires both hard power and soft power, because military strength alone cannot prevent every conflict, stop every pandemic, build every alliance, or open every new market for American workers. When America leads with diplomacy, development, and humanitarian leadership, we make our Nation stronger and safer. When America retreats, our adversaries advance. This bill retreats from American leadership, and it makes America less secure. Mr. Chairman, I hope and I expect that we can still improve this legislation as it moves through the legislative process. Until then, I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Amo).

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 20 seconds to the gentlewoman from New York.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Meng), the distinguished ranking member of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and on our committee.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Florida.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the distinguished ranking member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Torres), a member of our committee.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 10 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished ranking member of the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Walkinshaw).

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the distinguished ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, let me just start by expressing my extreme respect for my chairman, Mr. Diaz-Balart, our subcommittee, and the staff. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to the Republican fiscal year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs appropriations, and I do so with regret. This bill should be our moment to strengthen America and show the world that American leadership is more than bombs, bullying, and illegal tariffs. Done right, this bill could make our Nation more secure at home and abroad. Sadly, it falls painfully short. Rather than make smart investments in the tools that prevent conflict and build peace and prosperity, the Trump administration has chosen to put us in a war that is costing our country billions of dollars and countless lives with no end in sight. Real security requires more. It requires diplomacy, development, and humanitarian leadership. Real security means showing up before a crisis becomes a catastrophe, before instability becomes extremism, and before conflict becomes war. This is how we build alliances, and this is how we create trading partners. This is how we stop diseases before they reach our shores. This is how we keep our American sons and daughters from having to fight another war. Yet, this bill hollows out the very tools that have kept Americans safe for generations. Let's be honest about what has happened. USAID has been dismantled, programs have been terminated, and decades of experience have been cast aside. Clinics are closing, vaccines are going undelivered, and contraceptives are sitting in warehouses. Children are losing their chance to go to school, families are going hungry, communities are losing access to clean water, and people are losing their lives. If these cuts continue, researchers warn that by 2030 more than 14 million additional people could die, including 4.5 million children under the age of 5. Think about that, Mr. Chairman, 4.5 million children whose lives could have been saved. Remember, Mr. Chair, we are all in this world together. When hunger grows, when disease spreads, when poverty deepens, and when hope disappears, instability follows. Extremism finds fertile ground, and America becomes less secure, not more secure. Yet, at this moment, the world needs more American leadership. This bill tells us to retreat. It proposes $14 billion less in international affairs than just 4 years ago, a cut of more than 23 percent. These cuts weaken our diplomats, dismantle our development programs, and slash humanitarian assistance. They undermine global health efforts that stop threats before they reach our shores. Meanwhile, another appropriations bill moves us toward more than $1 trillion in defense spending, the most ever in the history of our country, and our President wants another half a billion dollars more. Let me be clear, Mr. Chairman. I believe in a strong military. I am the mother of a marine who served in two wars, and I know that we owe every serviceman and -woman more than just our gratitude. The choice should not be between military strength and diplomacy. American security depends on both. We owe those brave servicemen and - women a foreign policy that does everything possible to prevent the next war before asking them to fight in one. That is because diplomacy prevents conflict; development reduces the desperation that fuels violence; and humanitarian assistance builds stability. Strong alliances ensure that America never stands alone. These are not acts of charity. These are investments in American national security. Instead of strengthening our security, this bill walks away from it. It rescinds $1 billion in humanitarian assistance. It turns our back on the women around the world, the foundation of families and communities, by slashing family planning programs and eliminating support for UNFPA. It expands the global gag rule, imposing ideological restrictions that silence healthcare providers, denying women critical medical information, and conditioning U.S. assistance on compliance with anti- DEI and anti-LGBTQ+ policies. It even refuses to meet our commitments to the United Nations by not paying our dues. It eliminates funding for the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Inter-American Foundation, and the U.S. African Development Foundation, institutions that prevent conflict, strengthen democracy, expand economic opportunity, and advance America's interests. It turns its back on building relationships with the growing nations of Africa, the continent with the world's fastest-growing population, rapidly expanding economies, and many of tomorrow's most important partners. That is not strength. That is surrendering leadership. When America walks away, who walks in? China walks in, Russia steps in, and extremists fill the vacuum. This debate is not choosing between hard power and soft power. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to reject this bill because America's greatest strength has not only been our military power. It is the power of ideals, the power of diplomacy, the power of compassion, the power of partnership, and the power of American leadership. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Lady Fannie Lee ``Motha'' Banks, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 90. A devoted wife and ministry partner, she served her community faithfully alongside her husband, Bishop Sylvester Banks, Sr., for over 70 years. Together, they established The Bible Church of God, Inc. in Boynton Beach, Florida. She was a spiritual mother to 24 churches across the United States, including many in Florida's Palm Beach County, and served as a National Mother for over eight years. Her impact was deeply felt throughout Boynton Beach and Delray Beach, where her life and service touched countless lives. The last of sixteen children, she was also the devoted mother of fourteen. Her remarkable legacy lives on through more than 160 descendants--grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great- grandchildren--as well as a host of church members, extended family, and dear friends whose lives she touched. One of her most cherished gifts was her ability to make each person feel uniquely seen and valued--even in a crowded room. She was instrumental to Mr. Banks, Sr.'s many accomplishments, including the honor of receiving the Key to the City of Boynton Beach. An entrepreneur at heart, she owned a successful soul food restaurant in Boynton Beach and later operated a beloved bakery and pastry business, earning admiration and loyal support from customers across the country. The legacy of Lady Fannie Lee ``Motha'' Banks will forever live on in the hearts she touched, the lives she nurtured, and the faith she so powerfully demonstrated. Her love, wisdom, and unwavering devotion to family and her church will continue to inspire generations to come. Please join me in honoring the memory of Lady Banks for her extraordinary contributions to countless communities and her enduring impact. May her memory be a blessing.

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida

Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my constituent Chris Redding, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, innovator, and advocate, and recognize his groundbreaking work in advancing inclusion through music, neuroscience, and neurodiversity awareness. Alongside his wife, Serena Redding, and their son, Christian Saint Ellis Redding, Chris has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advocacy through the Saint Ellis Foundation--an organization dedicated to expanding access to music, educational resources, and inclusive opportunities for individuals with autism, ADHD, and other neurodivergent experiences, as well as their families. While Christian is non-verbal, he has always been able to connect to his family through music. With this in mind, Chris and Christian recorded ``The Colors in My Mind,'' a Grammy-nominated album that made history as the first project of its kind to feature a non-speaking individual. Through this pioneering body of work and ongoing advocacy initiatives, Chris and his family have worked to remove barriers to accessibility, ensuring that creative expression, education, and therapeutic resources are available to individuals with autism, ADHD, and diverse neurological profiles. His innovative use of sound frequencies and principles rooted in neuroscience has demonstrated the potential of music as a form of therapeutic expression, promoting mental wellness, emotional regulation, and human-centered design. Chris has emerged as a leader in the evolving field of NeuroArts, championing the concept of ``music as medicine'' and inspiring new pathways for research, education, and creative expression that support neurodivergent communities. His advocacy work continues to foster greater awareness, acceptance, and celebration of neurodiversity, encouraging communities, institutions, and industries to embrace inclusive practices and expand access for individuals with autism, ADHD, and beyond. As Chris continues pioneering innovation and advocacy in the industry, I rise today to honor his outstanding contributions to the arts--alongside his family--and their unwavering commitment to promoting love, inclusion, accessibility, and acceptance through music. Please join me in thanking Chris Redding and his family for their extraordinary contributions to the field and wishing them every success as they continue their journey.