Ruben Gallego

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. President, I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 308, Confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 173 William Long, to be Commissioner of IRS. I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted yea on rollcall vote No. 309, on the Motion to Table S. Amdt. 2310. I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted yea on rollcall vote No. 310, motion to Waive the Merkley Budget Point of Order. I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted yea on rollcall vote No. 311, adoption of Hagerty-Gillibrand Substitute Amendment No. 2307 to Calendar No. 66, S. 1582, GENIUS Act. I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted yea on rollcall vote No. 312, motion to Invoke Cloture on Calendar No. S. 1582, GENIUS Act, as Amended, if Amended. I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 314, motion to Invoke Cloture on Executive Calendar No. 98, Olivia Trusty, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2025. I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted no on rollcall vote No. 315, motion to Invoke Cloture on Executive Calendar No. 99, Olivia Trusty, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Federal Communications Commission for a term of five years from July 1, 2025 (Reappointment).

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. President, on May 14, 2025, I was unfortunately unable to cast my vote on rollcall vote No. 256, the confirmation of Eric M. Ueland to be Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget. If I had been present, I would have voted nay.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 2 minutes.

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. President, we made some great progress this past week. I greatly--greatly--appreciate the work that we have done in a bipartisan manner. I want to thank my fellow colleagues across the aisle: Senator Warner, Senators Lummis, Hagerty, Chairman Scott, Senators Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester. They really have been working hard to get a good product, and it was done in good faith. And I really want to thank my Republican colleagues for doing this. The reason you are hearing some hesitancy is the legislation of this scope and importance really just cannot be rushed, and we need time both to educate our colleagues and people. We are not shutting down. We don't want to shut this down to the point where we are ending all this work that we have put into it. We want to bring this economy and this innovation to the United States, and I am asking for that time. I want to be clear that you do have enough Members across the aisle who want to see this passed in a good manner. So what I am going to be asking for is that we collapse today's vote and Monday's vote into a single vote on Monday. I believe there is a pathway for us to actually get this done, get good language, and have a bipartisan win for this country. All this agreement is asking for is simply to combine today's and Monday's vote. It would not add or reduce any floor time compared to just taking this vote today. So I ask for unanimous consent to do that.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. I ask unanimous consent--

Mr. GALLEGO. I withhold my request.

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. President, as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 103, which was submitted earlier today; further, that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. President, 3 years ago, when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, many people, including experts, believed Putin would crush Ukraine's democracy in days. They were wrong. About 1 month before the war broke out, I traveled to Ukraine with a bipartisan coalition of House Representatives to meet with Ukrainian soldiers. Those soldiers we met there knew they were up against one of the strongest militaries in the world, but they refused to back down when it came to fighting for their families, their freedom, and their future. These soldiers are the reason why--against all odds--Ukraine still stands strong. Over 3 years, the scrappy little country of Ukraine has grinded down the second most powerful military in the world. Ukraine is holding the line for democracy, and they are doing it with our support. But Monday's vote at the U.N. undermined that and was a betrayal of Ukraine, America's allies, democracy, and everything we have stood for as a country. Let's be clear on this: This is a war that Russia started. Ukraine did not ask for it. They did not ask to go to war with a nuclear superpower, and they did not ask for their cities to be reduced to rubble. They didn't ask for their children to be displaced and families to be torn apart. If Ukraine had its way, this war would have ended years ago. What happened at the U.N. puts us on the same side as Russia and North Korea. That is not just embarrassing; it is dangerous. It sent a message to our allies and every other country that relies on the U.S. to stand up to bullies and defend freedom that America cannot be relied on to rightfully call out unprovoked aggression. It told them that they are on their own; that America's words mean nothing. If we can't stand up against these criminals, if we can't stand up against pariah states like Russia, how can we expect the world to take us seriously as leaders of democracy? This is why I am introducing this resolution. I urge my colleagues to correct the mistake we made at the U.N. this week. Stand with our allies, and condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. America does not stand with dictators, and we never will, and we shall never. With that, I ask for consent and vote on my resolution.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Madam President, how am I recorded?

Mr. GALLEGO. Thank you. For the veterans I serve with, I vote no.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. President, since the beginning of the Trump administration a little over 2 weeks ago, my office has heard directly from Arizonans about how the cronies of this President are impacting their day-to-day lives. In one his first acts, the President and the Office of Management and Budget moved to freeze the grants and loans to Arizona organizations that work tirelessly each day to better the lives of Arizona families. These are not people who do the work because they are chasing a high salary. They are not doing it out of a drive to be millionaires or billionaires. They are doing it to help their fellow Arizonans. The programs impacted by the Federal freeze include Assistance to Firefighters Grants so our firefighters can purchase equipment; Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response--better known as SAFER-- Grants, which fund the hiring of firefighters; sexual assault services, which provide rape kits to sexual assault survivors; and Preventing the Trafficking of Girls, which supports the prevention and early intervention services for girls who are at risk of or are victims of sex and/or labor trafficking; the Rural Violent Crime Initiative, which supports the implementation of violent crime reduction strategies, improves investigations, improves services to victims, and enhances collaboration between local stakeholders; Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, which provides death and education benefits for survivors of fallen officers and firefighters; violence against women formula grants, which improves our capacity to reduce domestic violence; the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants, which are used to purchase critical technology, infrastructure, et cetera, for police departments and other public safety entities; and the CHIPS Research and Development Programs to grow Arizona's semiconductor industry and the country's. These lifesaving programs and economic drivers were canceled not because they were ineffective, not because Congress voted to cut them, but because they were in the way of one man's crusade to tear down the Federal Government, and that man is OMB nominee Russell Vought. Russell Vought is a danger to the United States. He has been a staunch advocate for drastically eliminating or cutting our safety net programs, such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. He helped design Trump-era budgets that sought to cut trillions from these programs, while simultaneously advocating for tax cuts that would only benefit the wealthiest of Americans. So let's make sure we understand what is happening here. He wants to cut help for the poorest Americans to make sure that there is enough money left over to give it to the richest Americans. His vision for America is one where billionaires thrive while the families of Arizona and America struggle to get ahead. Vought has showed complete disregard for our democratic institutions. He was a key architect of efforts to politicize the Federal bureaucracy and push for policies that would replace career civil servants with partisan loyalists. He played a significant role in enabling the Trump administration's refusal to cooperate with congressional oversight. His actions set a dangerous precedent, and it is a playbook that the Trump administration is looking to deploy and has deployed in this second term--a playbook of reducing transparency, accountability, and disregarding the power of Congress in favor of an empowered executive branch. The Office of Management and Budget is one of the most powerful Agencies in the country. It is responsible for crafting the President's budget, overseeing regulatory policies, and ensuring the efficient operation of government programs. The OMB Director must believe in the fundamental mission of government, which is to serve the people. Vought, by contrast, has spent his career trying to dismantle government institutions and push an extreme agenda that benefits only a select few. If confirmed to lead OMB, Vought would have the ability to impose cuts on essential programs, further politicize the Federal workforce, and continue his assaults on democratic institutions. His leadership would result in policies that worsen economic inequality, weaken national security by defunding key Agencies, and eroding public confidence in government. The confirmation of Vought would not only be a step backward, but it would also embolden extremists seeking to undermine the role of government. His approach to governance is not about responsible budgeting or efficiency; it is about dismantling the Federal Government from within. The stakes are too high to allow such a dangerous individual to return to a position of power. Russell Vought is a major threat to our democratic institutions. His track record makes it abundantly clear that he is unfit for any leadership management role in budget, in government, especially one as powerful as the Office of Management and Budget. Confirming Vought would allow an individual with a history of extremism, obstructionism, and divisiveness to control the country's budget and regulatory framework. His vision for America is one where government serves only the wealthy and the powerful, while ordinary citizens are left without support and the services they need. In the face of such a threat, it is crucial that we reject any attempt to put Vought in any position of power. The future of the country depends on leaders who believe in governance, transparency, and fairness, not those who seek to destroy it and the institutions that make this all work. The Senate and the American people must stand firm against this confirmation, ensuring that those who wield power do so in service of this Nation, understand why they are doing it, understand that it is not just for the sake of ideologic crusades that we should be putting Vought in power but to make sure that we have a government that answers for the people and by the people. In conclusion, we must remember at the core what is going to happen and what is happening. Just yesterday, I met with many of my local healthcare centers in Arizona--more than 50 of them--and I asked them: What is going on in your communities? What is happening right now? Many of them were telling me about the fear that they are hearing in the communities. What many of them also told me--these are very critical community health centers, some of the health centers that are the frontlines of taking care of some of the poorest communities in the country with some of the largest health disparities in the country, people that are chronically ill and going to these places because it is the last place that will see them since they do not have doctors, they don't have access to hospitals, and they don't have access to insurance. These community health centers were telling me that right now, most of them still cannot access payment. The organizations that are essentially taking care of the poorest of this country cannot get payments for services they are giving to these poor communities, for the contracts that we signed with them as the Federal Government, because people like Vought want to freeze those grants. They want to freeze out those types of groups that are taking care of the poor in order to save as much money so that they can give this money and these tax cuts to the richest of Americans. It is the most cynical thing we could be doing, the most cynical thing this Trump administration could be doing, and certainly it is a very dangerous thing that OMB nominee Vought will be doing. With that, I yield the floor.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Javier Arce, Editor, Reporter, and Digital Producer for La Voz Arizona and the Arizona Republic, who recently passed away. Mr. Arce's success as a voice for Latino and immigrant communities in Arizona has inspired many. Mr. Arce began at La Voz and The Republic in 2014, providing coverage for Arizona readers for over two decades. A Mexicali native, he understood the experience within transborder communities and helped inform others of immigration and election coverage, showcasing everyday Arizonans and their pursuit of bettering their neighborhoods. He became a strong voice and a fixture in the community, highlighting the lives and successes of Latinos and immigrants who call Arizona home. His passion, commitment, and dedication to the Latino and immigrant community positively impacted the Valley. As an expert on anti-immigration laws, Mr. Arce was dedicated to creating a mission to find the voices of Latino and immigrant communities that would otherwise go untold. He knew the community and the issues they cared for. He leaves a legacy that will greatly impact the next generation of the Latino and immigrant community in Arizona. I offer my deepest condolences to Mr. Arce's family and friends.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Chair, during Roll Call Vote No. 311, I mistakenly recorded my vote as AYE when I should have voted NO. Amendment No. 36 Offered by Ms. Mace

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Chair, I rise to express my support for H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership in bringing this bipartisan legislation to the floor. This bill strengthens our national security by ensuring the Department of Defense has the right resources and authorities to defend the Nation, not only today but also in the future. In this era of great power competition, the bill both addresses the challenges of our potential competitors and adversaries and further strengthens and builds the crucial partnerships and alliances to deter them. I am also proud of the work of my subcommittee. The Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee's piece of this bill ensures that our Special Operations Forces and Defense Intelligence Enterprise capabilities and enterprises have the authorities, force structure, and people they need to accomplish their mission. The bill also improves security cooperation efforts, including in the Baltic region, and extends an existing authority to engage partner militaries on defense-related environmental and operational energy issues in areas like the Indo-Pacific. I am also proud to have secured important wins for Arizona, which plays such a crucial role in our Nation's defense. We are requiring DOD to report on the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, like local water systems, and authorizing additional funding for infrastructure and communications upgrades at Air Force combat training ranges. This bill is certainly not perfect, but it was voted out of committee on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote. It is my hope that this bill can remain bipartisan and devoid of extreme policy riders that put our national security at risk and harm our servicemembers.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Michael Carbajal, ``Little Hands of Stone (Manilas de Piedra)'', and all his accomplishments. Since becoming a boxer, he has accumulated six world championships, an Olympic silver medal, and a 49-4 career record, all of which landed him in the Boxing Hall of Fame. He was also selected Fighter of the Year in 1993 for Ring Magazine and was Comeback Fighter of the Year in 1999. Since his retirement in 1999 after winning the WBO light flyweight title belt, he has shared his expertise, mentoring the next generation of boxers in the Phoenix area. Inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, Carbajal has left an indelible mark on Arizona's boxing scene. Carbajal's outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication have been a tremendous source of inspiration for young boxers throughout Arizona. His ongoing support and commitment to Arizona will make a lasting impact for generations to come. Since he was six years old, Carbajal has been a unified champion, serving as the face of boxing in Arizona for decades. Carbajal's story lives on as he tirelessly contributes to the next generation of boxers at his 9th Street Gym, blocks from where he grew up. I am proud to recognize Carbajal and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza's retirement and all her accomplishments. Since opening Barrio Cafe, she has been featured in Sunset Magazine, Esquire Magazine, and Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and has been a finalist for the James Beard Award several times. Throughout the years, Chef Silvana has shared her expertise, mentoring the next generation of chefs and small business owners. Inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame, Chef Silvana has left her indelible mark on the Phoenix food scene. Chef Silvana is a community leader and civil rights advocate in her own right. She has tirelessly advocated for the rights of all in Arizona and against abusive and discriminatory legislation like SB1070. Chef Silvana cooked and distributed food to those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership and vision have transformed a stretch of 16th Street into `Calle 16,' a hub for local economic development, flourishing with Mexican art, murals, culture, and food. Since 2002, Barrio Cafe has been a Phoenix institution, serving world-renowned Mexican food--`comida chingona'--and promoting Mexican American arts and culture. Chef Silvana's story lives on with her autobiographical book, `La Hija de la Chingada: Chronicles of a Mexican Chef in the U.S.A.' I am lucky to call Chef Silvana a friend, and I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, while I was unable to attend today's vote series, had I been able to attend, I would have proudly voted yes on H.R. 6090, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which I am a cosponsor of. This legislation is an important step to protecting the American Jewish community, particularly in light of the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents across the country. The State Department has used the International Holocaust Remembrance. Alliance (IHRA) Definition since 2010, while the Department of Education has considered the IHRA definition of antisemitism since 2019 when reviewing, investigating, or deciding whether there has been a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This legislation would make the IHRA definition the official policy of federal agencies, and I urge Congress to swiftly pass it.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Madam Speaker, I regretfully missed the vote on H.R. 6090, the Antisemitism Awareness Act. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 172.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate over 70 years of the Azteca Wedding Plaza as the Torrez family heads into retirement. Founded in 1950 by Adolfo and Kay Torrez, their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren have kept the family business thriving over the decades. Family has been at the center of everything at Azteca. For generations, the Torrezes have proudly served Phoenix families through quinceaneras, weddings. and many other special moments. To be part of memorable occasions and serve their community has been their motivation and constant goal throughout the years. Prolific entrepreneurs, Adolfo and Kay's first business was Mexican restaurant in downtown Phoenix. From there, they opened a bar, flower shop. furniture store, and eventually grew into Azteca Wedding Plaza-- an entire city block dedicated to the bridal industry. Azteca has been a mainstay in Phoenix's Latino community, providing a welcoming environment for generations of brides and grooms. Now, as a family, they have determined it is time to retire Azteca. Reaching this conclusion has not been easy, but their decision was fueled by one factor--family. Now, their plan is to spend more time with friends and family and to watch their community grow and prosper. I would like to congratulate the Torrez family on over 70 years of business and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of Frank Barrios, a third generation Arizonan and proud Mexican American who dedicated over 50 years of service to the people of Arizona. I want to express my gratitude for Frank's remarkable service to the 3rd Congressional District, to our community, and to all of Arizona. Frank spent his career in hydrology, utilizing his engineering degree to ensure the sustainability of Arizona's water supply. Without these efforts, Arizona's growth and success over the past decades would not have been possible. He began his career with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. From there, he transitioned to the Arizona Water Commission, later called the Arizona Department of Water Resources, serving as a director for both the Pinal and Phoenix Active Management Areas. After retiring from Colorado River Planning in 1998, Frank was appointed to the Central Arizona Water Conservation District Board of Directors, where he served for 3 years. But Frank's impact and his legacy go far beyond his career. Frank served as President of 7 boards, won numerous awards and accolades, and published several books. He was passionate about preserving the history of Mexican Americans in the Valley, fighting to restore a historically Latino burial ground in downtown Phoenix and archiving photographs and stories. Thanks to his work, the contributions of Latinos to Arizona history will not be erased. My thoughts are with Frank's family and friends during this difficult time. Although he will be greatly missed, his legacy will be carried on through the countless lives he touched in his decades of service to the people of Arizona.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3371, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act, introduced by my colleague from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson). This legislation is an important step to honor Lakota lives lost at Wounded Knee and honor the Lakota for generations to come. In particular, this bill would place approximately 40 acres of land located within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation into restricted fee status for the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. This is the land believed to be the site of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre. In the late 1880s, Tribes began holding ghost dances for the renewal of stolen land and in protest of the U.S. Government, a government that prohibited American Indians from practicing their religious freedom. In December of 1890, the government sent U.S. Army 7th Cavalry troops to disarm the Lakota near Wounded Knee Creek. A struggle occurred, and the 7th Cavalry brutally massacred over 350 American Indian men, women, and children near Wounded Knee Creek. The Wounded Knee Massacre was one of the most atrocious acts in our Nation's history. The healing is still continuing today. In 2022, the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe purchased this land and signed a covenant to hold and maintain the land as a memorial and sacred site. Representative Johnson's bill affirms that covenant and would allow the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to hold, maintain, and protect the land as a memorial and sacred site without any development. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the duck stamp, or Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp is the only Federal conservation revenue stamp. This means 98 percent of the sale price is used to purchase conservation easements and to acquire wetland habitats for the National Wildlife Refuge System. The duck stamp also provides an opportunity to showcase wildlife art, with the Fish and Wildlife Service hosting an art competition each year, and a winning piece selected for next year's design. Sportsmen and women, artists, and conservationists purchase duck stamps as a collectible to cover entry fees to any National Wildlife Refuge System unit, as a hunting license, or as a donation to conservation. Millions of stamps have been sold in recent years, contributing tens of millions of dollars toward conservation each year. This bipartisan bill will modernize government stamp services by allowing online access to the Federal Duck Stamp. This improvement will save applicants and agency officials time and money and make it more accessible for hunters, conservationists, and collectors to purchase duck stamps and support wetland conservation. It is a good bill, and I am happy to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GALLEGO

Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 663, the Native American Child Protection Act. American Indian and Alaska Native children have the highest rate of child abuse in the United States, at a rate of 15 cases for every 1,000 children. This can have devastating impacts on a child's cognitive, emotional, and neurological development, and can last them well into adulthood and even their entire life. On top of this crisis, the Supreme Court recently heard a case attempting to gut the Indian Child Welfare Act, which protects the rights of Native children and families. That is why passing the Native American Child Protection Act today is so timely. My bipartisan bill reauthorizes and revises programs that give Tribes the tools to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute child abuse and family violence involving Native American children. The programs in this bill were originally led by another Arizonian back in 1990 through John McCain's Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. That bill was part of a promise to answer for the tragic abuse that happened at federally run Native American boarding schools, but the programs had never been fully funded, were never authorized, and eventually expired. This is a failure by the Federal Government and a continuation of centuries of broken promises. By passing H.R. 663, we will take a step to right this wrong. We will create a national Indian resource and family service center to help Tribes and urban Indian organizations with training and program development. We will develop new intergovernmental agreements between Tribes and States to prevent, investigate, treat, and prosecute family violence, and will encourage culturally appropriate treatments and services for children who have been impacted. In a place where we see a lot of partisan bickering, it is heartening to see so much bipartisan support around Tribal issues, including my Republican counterpart and co-lead on this bill, Representative Newhouse. I also thank Natural Resources Committee Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva, as well as Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee Chairwoman Hageman and Ranking Member Leger Fernandez for their support. The Native American Child Protection Act is another chance for us to work together to fulfill our promise to help this vulnerable population. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support final passage of H.R. 663, and I reserve the balance of my time.