Sylvia Garcia

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the veterans of our country. There are over 16,000 veterans in my district. Mr. Speaker, 16,000 people have given their heart and soul to our Nation. For so many, that call to serve has affected their health. In my district alone, the VA has received 1,164 claims under the PACT Act as of this October. That was possible because of the incredible work of House Democrats to pass this law last Congress. Currently, many VA centers lack the ability to provide care for gynecological cancers. That leaves female veterans to search for their own care. That must change. We need to fight for our female veterans. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to reintroducing the Veterans' Cancer Care Coordinator Act this week. This bill would create coordinators to help female veterans receive the care they need from diagnosis through remission. This builds on the successful Maternal Care Coordination program at the VA. As a Nation, we must protect our Nation's heroes. We must also put veterans above politics. We must thank them. Mr. Speaker, I thank all the veterans for their service.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate Lone Star Legal Aid on celebrating their 75th anniversary. Founded in Houston in 1948, Lone Star Legal Aid has grown to become the third largest legal aid provider in the United States, serving over 2 million across the Texas region. Mr. Speaker, Lone Star Legal Aid holds a very special place in my heart, because that is where I started. I went to law school to be a legal aid lawyer. That is where I found my calling, fighting for the poor and the most vulnerable back in the eighties. Here we are 75 years later, and Lone Star is still there for communities in their darkest and most challenging moments. They played a vital role in desegregating public housing, improving children's healthcare, championing environmental justice, fighting for the poor, and helping those in their fight for public benefits. In short, they help people pursue their legal access to justice. Today, let's recognize Lone Star Legal Aid for 75 years. I thank them for making a difference in people's lives.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 44\1/2\ years of service and dedication of Houston's own Judge Richard Vara. A trailblazer in 1974, when he was appointed judge, he was 23 years old. At the time, that made him the youngest person to be appointed as justice of the peace. He was just 23 years old. Judge Vara grew up in the historic east end of Houston, graduating from Austin High School, the University of Houston, and the South Texas College of Law. The judge got his first encounter with politics and people and fighting for all of us by going to meetings of LULAC with his parents. This sense of service to the Latino community remained with him throughout his service. Both in the courtroom and in the community, Judge Vara has exemplified public service and commitment by bettering his community. He has created and volunteered for countless organizations in Houston, all aimed at improving the lives of people around him. Please join me in congratulating Judge Richard Vara for his many years of service. Enjoy your retirement, Judge. You have earned it. Thank you and God bless.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, l rise today to honor the 44\1/2\ years of service and dedication of Houston's own Judge Richard C. Vara, a trailblazer who was the youngest person to be elected Justice of the Peace at that time. Judge Vara grew up in the historic east end of Houston, graduating from Austin High School. the University of Houston. and South Texas College of Law. The Judge got his first encounter with politics by going to LULAC meetings with his parents. This sense of service to the Latino community remained with him throughout his career. Both in the courtroom and in the community, Judge Vara has exemplified public service and commitment to bettering his community. He has created and volunteered for countless organizations in Houston, all aimed at improving the lives of those around him. Please join me in congratulating Judge Richard Vara for his many years of service. Felicidades.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month is about recognizing the countless contributions of Latinos across the Nation. We celebrate the Latino entrepreneurs who have built thriving businesses, the doctors and nurses who provide essential healthcare, the teachers who inspire future generations, and the activists who tirelessly advocate for justice and equality. As we honor Hispanic Heritage Month, let us all commit to fostering an inclusive society where everyone, regardless of their background, can thrive and contribute to the American Dream. Let's embrace the diversity that makes our Nation stronger and more vibrant and continue celebrating our heritage that enriches us all. Let's put diversity over hate, people over politics. ``Yes, we can. Long live the people''; ``Si se puede y que viva la gente.''

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Bill Richardson. Former Governor Bill Richardson was a devoted public servant and a skilled diplomat whose career improved countless lives in New Mexico and across America, and indeed, the world. As Governor of New Mexico, he tirelessly worked to improve the lives of his constituents while making history leading as a Latino, but Bill Richardson's influence extended well beyond the borders of New Mexico. He served as Energy Secretary and also as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, where his diplomatic skills and commitment to peace played a pivotal role in addressing many global challenges. Today, we remember Governor Bill Richardson, and we also honor his legacy of public service and diplomacy, which continues with his work at his center. He was an inspiration to all of us, and he was a true American patriot. His leadership and kindness will forever be remembered. Rest in peace, my friend.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, ensuring everyone has access to high quality and affordable healthcare is a top priority for me. That is why, together with House Democrats, we have fought tirelessly in Congress to bring down healthcare and prescription drug costs. Finally, Medicare can negotiate lower prescription drug costs for seniors and other beneficiaries, which will take effect in 2026. I am excited that the first 10 Medicare part D drugs have been selected for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. In my home State of Texas, 623,000 seniors will save money thanks to these negotiations. We are building a healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of all Americans, regardless of their age, income, or background. When it comes to healthcare, we are all in this together. We are putting seniors over profits. We are putting people over politics.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, extreme MAGA Republicans have gone from Trump's caging children to Abbott's trapping children in the river. Razor wire-wrapped barrels in the river, pushing children back into the river, and denying water during extreme heat are simply acts of deliberate, inhumane, and horrific torture. It goes beyond politics and crosses a line into human rights violations. These buoys by the Governor will not stop migrants from crossing the Rio Grande. Instead, they will pose a grave threat to Border Patrol agents and increase the risk of drowning for children, disabled people, mothers and others. Mr. Speaker, what if this were one of your own children, your niece or nephew, or your grandchildren? Mr. Speaker, how would you respond if you saw your family treated this way? Governor Abbott's anti-life actions do not reflect our Texas values. It is just simply bad and inhumane actions. Migrants deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion, not by this relentless dehumanization.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, of which I am a member, was meeting for official committee business when the vote series on 7/20/23 began. Chairman Jim Jordan kept the committee in order despite votes being called. The committee eventually recessed but the vote was held open long enough for me to cast my vote on the first 2 votes of the series, through no fault of my own. For Roll Call No. 361, I would have voted NO, and for Roll Call No. 362 I would have noted NO.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm about the extreme heat in Texas that is putting people's lives in danger. Workers in agriculture, construction, mail delivery, and landscaping are in danger and at risk for heat-related injuries or even death every day. Many workers in my district are working outside at a heat index that is well above 100 degrees. Heat is the number one cause of weather-related deaths in the United States--more than floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Just last month, Felipe Pascual, a construction worker in the Houston area, collapsed on the jobsite and later died due to hyperthermia. Mr. Speaker, that is why I introduced the Construction Injury Prevention Act to provide paid 15-minute rest breaks for workers every 4 hours. This bill puts people over profits, it puts people over politics, and will literally save lives. We need to act to keep our workers safe, and we must act now.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague and friend and all the members of the Armed Services Committee for allowing me to encourage my colleagues to support amendments 723 and 731 of the NDAA. Amendment 723 offers whistleblower protections in investigations considering evidence. We certainly want to protect those who are courageous enough to come forward, including preventing undue, adverse, and retaliatory personnel actions by their employers within DOD. Amendment 731 is the Bereavement Leave for All amendment. This commonsense, plain and simple amendment will expand the definition of family members in bereavement policies to include nonbiological family members such as foster and adopted children. Again, this is common sense and goes to just keeping families together in their very time of need. We do not want families in a situation where they lost a loved one and they are not allowed leave because they are not a blood child. It is my hope that my colleagues support both amendments that afford our servicemembers and civilians the same protections and rights that we would want in their positions.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Adam Schiff is tough. Adam Schiff is smart. Adam Schiff gets the job done. Adam Schiff holds the powerful accountable. That is exactly why we are here today. Extreme MAGA Republicans are trying to punish our colleague for doing his job, holding the twice- impeached, twice-indicted former President accountable. The MAGA wing of the Republican Party can't stop Adam. My friend Adam Schiff will always fight to defend our democracy. He will always do what is right. Trump's pals in Congress can create whole committees to defend him. They can try threatening outrageous fines. They can try to outright waste all of our time trying to prop up a man that has threatened our democracy over and over again. It is no surprise that former President Donald Trump was in a Miami courthouse last week, and we are here today discussing this topic. Mr. Speaker, we have to stop enabling this nonsense. When the whole House entertains conspiracy theories, nonsense, and political vendettas, it is the entire GOP that is responsible.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Federal Railroad Administration's recent funding to reduce train blockages in the Houston area. Madam Speaker, $36 million will go to overpasses where trains block roads, intersections, and crossings in the Houston area. Schoolchildren have been crawling under train cars just to get to school. Ambulances and fire trucks are losing precious minutes to detour around trains that are blocking high-traffic areas. Houston residents have filed more complaints of train obstructions than any other city in the United States. Our fire chief tells us that, on average, there are 90 instances a month where emergency responders are delayed by trains, losing time, when lives are at stake. Enough is enough. We must put people over politics. We must put people over trains. The funding that we just received, Madam Speaker, is but the first step. There is still a lot more to go to ensure that our roads are safe, our children are safe, and our community is safer.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, during Roll Call Vote No. 255 on H.R. 1615, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``yea'' when I should have voted ``no''.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 95th birthday of David De La Cruz. He is 95 years old. His loving family and friends will gather to celebrate this Saturday. Mr. De La Cruz is one of our district's last surviving World War II veterans. At the age of 17, David volunteered for the Army, leaving behind his family in the east end of Pasadena, Texas. He fought in World War II for 3 years, stationed in Germany. He returned to technical school for electronics and then was stationed in Korea to serve in the Korean war from 1950 to 1951. David had a 57-year career in electronics, both in the Army and as a local businessowner. David is an advocate for Latinos, a businessowner, and a lifetime member of The American Legion. As David likes to say, ``When people see a veteran, they should thank them.'' Today we thank David and celebrate his birthday. ``Happy birthday''; ``Feliz cumpleanos.'' ``May God bless you''; ``Que Dios te bendiga.''

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Ben Taub Hospital. The Harris County hospital district was created in November 1965 by a voter referendum. The hospital district remains a leader in indigent care in my home State of Texas, and the center of the system is the acute trauma center at Ben Taub Hospital. The hospital cares for more than 80,000 emergency patients each year who are in the most critical need. At Ben Taub, world-class doctors treat everyone regardless of their income, their gender, their insurance, or their immigration status. The doctors, nurses, support staff, and administrators are not just well known and respected locally for their training and patient care but also internationally. I am so grateful to have them serving my district and my constituents. I thank Ben Taub Hospital for 60 years of level one care, and may they have the best and most successful 60 more years to come.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, through no fault of my own, my flight from Houston, Texas to Washington, D.C. was significantly delayed on May 11, 2023. The voting time for the evening votes on May 11 closed before I could arrive and cast my vote that evening. I would have voted YEA on both Roll Call No. 203 and Roll Call No. 204 had I been present.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, scheduled for a vote on the House floor today. This bill is extreme and wrong. This bill in no way secures the border. In fact, it would only make security worse. It is an assault on asylum seekers and those who flee poverty, hunger, and violence, including unaccompanied minors and families with children. It exploits challenges on our border for political points. It adds to the human suffering of those who come to our country seeking safety and a better life. It is also about putting politics over people. We all expect our government to effectively manage our borders and thoroughly vet those who seek to enter as refugees, to join their family already in the country, or to work. We all agree on that. Instead, what we see is children are in danger, families are separated or detained, and people are dying. We need reform and we need it now. The last time Congress passed immigration reform was in 1996, 27 years ago. This Republican-led bill eliminates several legal immigration pathways, essentially making fewer people eligible for legal status while making more people deportable. Mr. Speaker, this bill is extreme and wrong. Again, session after session, we talk about reform but nothing ever passes, not a single immigration law update, again, since 1996. Time and time again, Republicans block meaningful legislation for safe and legal immigration from moving beyond this floor. Our job as public officials is to serve and protect our constituents, but we have been failing them for 27 years. House Republicans focus solely on immigration as a border issue, providing billions of dollars in so-called border security, building walls, increasing personnel, and rapid expulsion policies. That hasn't worked, has it? The promised security involves a militarized border, wasting the taxpayers' money, and increased violence for those seeking asylum. Since 1988, at least 8,000 undocumented immigrants have died attempting to cross the border from Mexico to the United States. People are dying every day while we wait on Republicans to budge. While rightwing media and extreme MAGA Republicans call immigrants ``illegals,'' seeking asylum is a legal right. It is in our immigration law. They are following the law. This law and this right would be denied to thousands under this bill. The administration and Congress must act. Again, this bill is simply extreme and wrong and does nothing to secure our border. Meanwhile, we continue to see the violence at the border and violence in my home State of Texas. I was born and raised in South Texas. I am not from Long Island or Boston or somewhere else talking about the border. I am from South Texas. I am talking about our South Texas border. Over the weekend, it was heartbreaking to see that 8 people were killed and 10 injured when a vehicle was driven into a group of people waiting in line at a migrant shelter in south Texas. We all know that there will be a surge of migrants coming in as of tonight, and cities like Brownsville, where this occurred, are preparing. We are preparing in Houston because we know we will get some of the impact, too. We must keep in mind that since migrants will no longer have the protections they have been afforded in the past--this bill will eliminate all that. People are losing their lives as they wait, even at this shelter. People are losing their lives on their way over. Now more than ever, safe and legal immigration reform is necessary. We must protect all God's children. We must always put people over politics and rhetoric. Now more than ever, we need safe and legal immigration reform. Now more than ever, we cannot wait another moment. Mr. Speaker, I oppose this bill and ask my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, scheduled for a vote on the House floor later today. This legislation is harmful, dangerous, irresponsible, and just plain wrong. Instead of securing the border, this bill will separate families, put human lives at risk, lead to more unlawful migration by blocking off lawful pathways to protection, and waste taxpayer dollars on an ineffective wall that can't even withstand wind much less criminal smuggling cartels. Instead of treating this like the emergency that it is, House Republicans focus on immigration solely at the border, providing billions of dollars in so-called border security, building walls, increasing personnel, and rapid expulsion policies. Since 1998, at least 8,000 undocumented migrants have died attempting to cross the border from Mexico to the U.S. People are dying. They are dying every day. Children are exploited. They are exploited every day. Families are being separated. They are being separated every day. We have all been waiting for many years, 27 years, in fact, since the last meaningful legislation on immigration reform was passed by this body. Since then, Republicans have rejected every bill that has been proposed. This bill, again, is wrong. It is not a solution. It is a slap in the face to our immigration system. There is no time left, Mr. Speaker. This bill is extreme, it is wrong, and what we really need is safe immigration law now. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to add the text of my amendment into the Record immediately prior to the vote on the motion to recommit.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, enough is enough. How many more times must public officials stand here before our colleagues demanding commonsense gun reform? Malls are not safe. Schools are not safe. Places of worship are not safe. We should not be afraid to step outside our own homes for the fear of losing our lives at the mercy of an assault weapon. We should not be afraid that we may never see our child again when we drop them off at school. We should not be afraid to attend a place of worship with loved ones. Madam Speaker, it has been 19 years since the Federal assault weapons ban expired, 19 years since Congress has acknowledged the lives lost because of assault weapons. In this year alone, there have been 203 mass shootings. That is 203 in 5 months. Over the past 10 years, this has resulted in 14,798 deaths, 617 of which were children and teens. In my home State of Texas, there have been 17 mass shootings resulting in 29 deaths and 61 injured. Texas accounts for 8 percent of nationwide mass shootings. It is very troubling. In my home county, 11 people have already died as a result of gun violence. Just this weekend, eight were killed and seven injured in Allen, Texas, at the hands of a gunman, killed for simply shopping at a mall, something we all do. How many more victims must die before we decide that enough is enough? Instead of being concerned about human lives, House Republicans are choosing to focus on beating up on Social Security and banning books. Our own Texas State leadership prioritizes political points over lives, politics over people. How long can leadership in Austin fail to do a single, meaningful action to take weapons of war out of the hands of violent extremists, domestic abusers, or even teenagers? Except for the Santa Fe shooting, all of the Texas shootings have been with an assault weapon. When five people, including a child, were shot and killed in Cleveland, Texas, our Governor tried to deflect the situation by talking about and blaming undocumented immigrants who were the victims. This is ridiculous. Immigration status has nothing to do with it. It is irrelevant. It is about people. It is about making sure we put people over politics, about making sure we put people's lives over the NRA. I call upon my Republican colleagues to enact commonsense gun reform legislation now. We must stop making excuses. The only path toward fewer deaths as a result of gun violence is commonsense gun reform. I call on the Supreme Court, as they approach a case that could strike down State and local laws banning AR-15s in all 50 States, to please look at precedent. Please look at the true meaning of the Second Amendment. We must protect our children. We must protect our lives. My hope is that no more needless deaths will occur before Congress can unite against mass shootings. No more deaths. No more grief. No more waiting on legislation. It is time to put people over politics. It is time to put people over the NRA. It is time for change, and the time is now.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of American Libraries Week. This is a perfect time to thank our local libraries and the employees who keep them open to the public to ensure access to reading and learning. While extreme MAGA Republicans are banning books and bashing librarians, House Democrats are protecting and recognizing their public libraries. We are putting people over politics. That is why I am proud to honor my local library, the Houston Public Library. Mr. Speaker, they have announced that with local support, our library will no longer charge late fees on overdue books or other borrowed items. This is one of the many efforts that they are making to make sure that libraries are more accessible. In honor of public libraries, I am reintroducing my bill, the More Social Workers in Libraries Act, today. Public libraries are vital community hubs, and this bill will reinforce America's social worker talent pipeline by creating a paid social worker internship in public libraries across the Nation. Libraries are for learning. They are for seeking resources and finding job opportunities. We need to lift them up and not bash them.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Thomas Street Health Center's legacy as the first freestanding HIV clinic in Houston and the Nation. Since 1989, Thomas Street Health Center has been a vital source of care for over 5,000 patients living with HIV/AIDS. This outstanding achievement is a testament to the exceptional research and collaboration between healthcare providers, patients, and the broader healthcare community. Thomas Street Health Center is moving to a new facility next month. This is a significant step forward, opening many possibilities for enhancing the patient experience. We bid farewell to this historic old location as it created many positive memories and contributions to the community. The Northside community will miss the people and the patients, but the building will forever remain as a reminder of the work that created such a difference in the lives of so many people at that site. We look forward to a bright future for Thomas Street Health Center in this new era. We congratulate them and we bid them well.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, across the country, State legislatures, including my home State of Texas, have advanced legislation seeking to ban transgender kids from participating in sports. Very sadly, this bill here today in Congress is seeking to do the same. The so-called Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act up for consideration today is nothing more than another extreme MAGA Republican political stunt, taking away the focus from the real issues affecting American people. It would stipulate that Title IX compliance ban gender and intersex girls and women from participating in sports. Denying children access to a place where they can gain mental and physical benefits does not protect women in sports. It harms women in sports. This bill sanctions discrimination against transgender students, which is mean-spirited and just plain bullying. This is not the role of Congress. I have heard directly from trans and intersex constituents in my district. They are worried every day about what political stunt and what political attack will come next. No one should live in fear just for being who they are. I strongly oppose the rule and strongly, strongly oppose final passage of this bill.