Sylvia Garcia

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 8297 by my colleague and friend from Houston, Congresswoman Fletcher. First, let me be clear. There seems to be some fixation from the other side that this decision should be left up to the States because the Supreme Court said that. They need to re-read the opinion. It simply says that it is returned to the people and their elected Representatives. Last time I looked, I was an elected Representative, and we all are elected Representatives. So, we can pass these two bills today and put them in statute and make it the law of the land because, I can tell you, if we leave it to the States, things will be more extreme. In my home State of Texas, extremist Republicans have created a patchwork that is scary, discriminatory, and oppressive, and they are doing that to limit our right to make our own deeply personal, private healthcare decisions about our own bodies together with our families and our providers. This bill would restore women's rights in Texas and across the country. It would stop Republicans from criminalizing, fining, or suing women who exercise their constitutional right to travel across State lines to obtain an abortion. This is important since many companies have announced policies that cover travel expenses for employees seeking abortion care who are not able to get them in their own home State. They are threatening businesses in Texas that they will throw them out of Texas. This bill is necessary. We are the elected Representatives. We get to decide.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of women and their fundamental rights to reproductive healthcare. While MAGA Republicans want to rip away women's rights, House Democrats remain committed to standing with women. We trust women. For a second time, we will vote to pass the Women's Health Protection Act to make the protections of Roe v. Wade the law of the land once again. House Democrats will also pass the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, which will prevent Republicans from suing or fining women who travel across State lines to obtain an abortion. Trusting women to make their own personal healthcare decisions is what we believe as Democrats. Controlling women and stripping away their rights is what they are as Republicans. Democrats won't give up the fight. We stand with women. We trust women.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in outrage that extreme Republicans seek to control women and their most intimate healthcare decisions by banning abortions. These cruel efforts will hurt the already vulnerable women in our communities the most, especially poor women. Madam Speaker, there are more than 800,000 women of reproductive age with incomes under 100 percent of poverty who live in States that haven't expanded Medicaid. These women are being left without access to comprehensive healthcare coverage, and now many are being stripped of their abortion rights. These women are less likely to access birth control, will struggle to receive wellness exams, and now will not have access to abortion. This is the vision Republicans have for America. This is what the rightwing wants. Well, I won't stand by quietly, and Democrats will not stand by quietly. I plan to fight for women because I trust women to make their most personal, intimate healthcare decisions.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for including my two amendments in this en bloc. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of two of my amendments that are included in this en bloc. The first authorizes Federal funds for two grant programs under the Maritime Administration. My amendment focuses on the often overlooked but critical maritime industry. It is especially important to my district, which includes the Maritime Center of Excellence campus and the Port of Houston. My amendment authorizes $30 million for a grant program to colleges which offer high-quality maritime workforce education and training programs. It also authorizes $30 million for the small shipyard grant program which supports training programs for shipbuilding and ship repair workers. Congress must support the next generation of maritime workers, and Congress must support our supply chain workers. This amendment does that. It is just that simple. The second amendment I led supports a pilot program on the sharing of suspicious financial activity. This pilot program allows financial institutions to share any suspicious information with their foreign branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates. Put simply, this program is designed to promote transparency and prevent illegal financial activity. It became law as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 included in the NDAA. Currently this pilot program is authorized for 3 years with a start date of January of 2021. Regrettably, the program is yet to begin. With the adoption of my amendment, which is just a technical fix, the pilot program will be authorized for 3 years following its actual inception. This allows ample time to implement and to also measure its success. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the en bloc amendments and the underlying bill.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Mr. Green, for his leadership on this very important amendment. I am not shocked by this amendment. I am pleased with this amendment. This is something that is desperately needed because this amendment would permanently authorize the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program. This important program does provide States and communities like mine in Houston with flexible, long-term recovery resources for building affordable housing and infrastructure after a disaster. This amendment would ensure that these essential services go to the most deserving communities, those hit hardest by a disaster. It builds safeguards to ensure that funds are not diverted away from the lowest- income survivors. Further, it reforms disaster recovery allocation formulas and protocols to ensure equity, prioritizes transparency and oversight and discovery, disaster recovery, protects civil rights in fair housing, and supports disaster mitigation efforts. Mr. Green and my hometown of Houston is no stranger to disasters, and Mr. Speaker, I would submit that if the folks on the other side of the aisle think that this is not a good program, and they don't want the dollars because it takes too long to get them, we will gladly accept them in Houston because we get hit almost every year or every other year. We get hit hard, and we get hit in the most vulnerable populations. So, again, I urge support of this amendment, and I urge all my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the efforts by House Democrats to protect women from the extreme Republican antiwomen agenda. I say to my colleagues that Republicans across our Nation seek to criminalize abortion nationwide with no exceptions, not for rape, not for incest, and they are very determined. But while they seek to control women and their personal choices, President Biden and House Democrats firmly stand with women. We trust women. Just last Friday, President Biden signed an executive order aimed at protecting access to reproductive health services. This week, House Democrats are passing legislation to protect a woman's ability to travel freely and voluntarily throughout the United States, including for reproductive health. We trust women because that is who we are as Democrats. We are the party that stands by women and their human rights. We trust women.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman and the ranking member for such kind remarks about a dear friend and colleague back home, Benny Martinez. They have covered a lot of what was said, but I will repeat some of it because I think it is important, not just for people in my district to hear it, but for people across the district because, with the naming of this Post Office, Mr. Speaker, it will mean the first post office named for a Latino in the Houston area, which, too, is a remarkable achievement. Mr. Martinez was a community leader, an advocate for Mexican-American civil rights, an Army veteran, a nurse, a Houston, Texas educator, and a friend. Benny and his family came from humble beginnings in Goliad, Texas, but moved to Houston, like many others, to find more opportunities. In 1956, at the age of 18, Benny was inducted into the U.S. Army. After completing his training, he was sent to Korea, where he was assigned to the 564th Quartermaster Company. Benny put his education degree to use and worked as an associate teacher in the Houston School District at Crockett Elementary. On top of this, Mr. Speaker, he served many organizations. As was mentioned, he was a lifelong member of LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens; the Veterans of Foreign Wars; the Knights of Columbus; and the American GI Forum. He also found time to be an usher at his local church. The thing that has been mentioned but that I want to underscore, because it was another historical note, is that he is better known for facilitating a historic meeting between a Texas LULAC chapter--again, the League of United Latin American Citizens--and then-President John F. Kennedy in 1963. This event is the first known meeting between a U.S. sitting President and a Hispanic civil rights group--very noteworthy. After a lifetime of a lot of achievements, Mr. Martinez passed away at 85 in 2019. This bill would name the post office after him. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill in the memory of a history maker and a pioneer in our community.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud President Biden and House Democrats' efforts to lower the cost of goods for hardworking American families. As we have seen, war criminal Putin has caused price hikes by way of his cruel war on Ukraine. As a result, Americans are seeing rising costs at the gas pump and the grocery stores and across the shelves of stores. While extreme MAGA Republicans have chosen to play the blame game, President Biden and House Democrats have decided to take action. Together, we are delivering results. We have passed key bills like the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which will strengthen supply chains and produce cleaner and cheaper gas. This will lead to lower prices. You see, Democrats are laser focused on lowering costs for hardworking families, not helping greedy billionaires and greedy companies. Together, we will continue building a better America.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate President Biden's massive accomplishment of slashing the Federal deficit by more than any other President in the first 16 months. Mr. Speaker, this is huge. But even better news: Biden is on track to double down on building a better America for generations to come. This year's deficit is on track to fall by $1.7 trillion which is the single largest 1-year reduction in American history. I repeat: This is the single largest reduction in American history. In contrast, the Trump administration increased the Federal budget deficit. Every single year in office, it went up. I can't say I am surprised, however. This accomplishment of the President is not coincidence. It is the result of a well-designed and well-managed recovery plan from the pandemic. It is a result of President Biden and Congress passing key legislation like the historical American Rescue Plan which got people back to work, kids back in school, and families healthy again. It is the result of a President who puts people first--not politics, people. But on another note, it is no secret that the recent price hikes that have been caused by the war criminal Putin are burdening hardworking families. In fact, Putin's price hike has increased gas prices by $2 a gallon in many places since Russian troops began to threaten Ukraine, and families are seeing higher prices in the grocery aisles, too. Sadly, Putin is increasing inflation, not only here in America, but also throughout the globe. House Democrats and President Biden won't stand for this. My colleagues and I are working side by side with the President to lower costs for working people at the gas pump, at the grocery store, and across the shelves. That is why House Democrats passed critical bills like the Lowering Food and Fuel Costs Act, Ocean Shipping Reform Act, and the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act. These key bills will strengthen our supply chains, create more maritime jobs in communities like my home district, and lower both gas and goods prices. Just yesterday, Mr. Speaker, the President announced that he is in favor of taking a pause of 3 months on the Federal gas tax. He has challenged Congress to pass that, to put a pause on the Federal gasoline tax for 3 months. Now, our tax is 18 cents. That would be 18 cents per gallon every time someone fills up. He challenged all of the Governors to do the same. Some Governors, like the Governors of Florida and Georgia and others, have already done this. In my State of Texas, that means an additional savings of 20 cents. Added together, that would be 38 cents a gallon. That is huge. That is a huge savings in cutting prices down. For an average tank of 15 gallons, that would be a savings of $5.70 every time they fill up. So I hope that our Governor does like Florida and Georgia and rises to the challenge that the President has made yesterday and puts a pause on Texas' gasoline tax. House Democrats are taking strong steps. We are joining hands with the President to make sure that we lower rising prices caused by Putin's cruel war in Ukraine. I call on all my Republican colleagues across the aisle to join us. Most Republicans voted against all those bills that I just mentioned. It is time to act. Enough is enough. I urge them to fight with us for hardworking American families. Together, we can build a better America for today and for generations to come.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the House Democrats' efforts to lower rising costs that threaten and burden our American families. Putin's cruel war in Ukraine is rising prices across our Nation and the world, but Democrats are taking decisive action. Last week, we passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act. This bill will reduce our dependence on foreign fertilizer production, strengthen competition in the meat and poultry sector, and strengthen our supply chain. It will also expand access to cleaner Unleaded 88 gas that costs an average of 40 cents less per gallon. These steps for Democrats will go a long way, Mr. Speaker, to protect American families from Putin's inflation. Yet, some extreme MAGA Republicans continue to side with greedy corporations and billionaires instead of hardworking families. I call on our Republican colleagues to work with us in our efforts to lower costs for all families across America. The time to act is now.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 10- year anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, more commonly known as DACA. Ten years ago, President Obama and Democrats reaffirmed America's tradition as the land of opportunity by creating DACA. Since that day, brave young immigrants, known as Dreamers, have provided massive contributions on their path to the American Dream. DACA gave Dreamers a chance to do that, to dream big. It allowed them to use their talents, giving them a chance to seek higher education, work, and, most importantly, protection from deportation. They were there for us on the front lines, working as healthcare workers, all kinds of workers, to help us through the pandemic, and we thank them. While we celebrate DACA as a significant temporary achievement for all of America, it is by no means a substitute for fixing our broken immigration system. Mr. Speaker, I promise to continue our fight for comprehensive immigration reform so that we can finally keep families together permanently.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize President Biden's and House Democrats' work in reducing the budget deficit, fighting inflation, and lowering the cost of goods in America. Madam Speaker, it is no secret Russia's cruel war against Ukraine is driving up prices not only here in America but all over the globe. Putin's price hike has increased gas prices by $2 a gallon in many places since Russian troops began to threaten Ukraine, and families are seeing higher prices in the grocery aisles also. But President Biden and House Democrats won't stand by and watch rising costs and inflation continue to burden our hardworking families. Putin may raise prices temporarily, but President Biden and House Democrats are fighting back with key legislation, and we will win. This week alone, Democrats acted to lower costs and crack down on outrageous ocean shipping fees by passing the bipartisan Ocean Shipping Reform Act. These shipping fees have made goods more expensive for American small businesses and American consumers. This bill will correct this inequity and make sure that American consumers are not being overcharged. Democrats soon will pass the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which aims to lower prices for American families in the grocery aisle and at the gas pump by giving American farmers and ranchers the support they need to thrive. This bill will take massive steps, including lowering fertilizer costs in the field to lower prices at the grocery store; lowering meat and poultry costs by increasing meatpacking competition and capacity; and lowering prices at the pump by making cheaper, cleaner Unleaded 88 more available. These are meaningful and practical steps we are taking to ensure lower prices and to lower inflation. But that is not all. This week, Democrats have delivered for the American people and will continue to do so. Last March, we passed the COMPETES Act. Now it is in conference, and we are negotiating with the Senate. The COMPETES Act will strengthen our supply chain and lower costs big time. This bill also will help us make more products right here in America. We will see ``Made in the USA.'' It also will include my bill, which has language to provide critical grants for maritime centers that would ensure our supply chain is not interrupted by work shortages and to ensure a pipeline of the future workforce. This will lower prices for our districts, like mine in Texas-29, and it will also create many good-paying local jobs for people in my district and all hardworking Texans. Madam Speaker, I am hopeful that our negotiations with the Senate while we are in the conference committee will soon end and that we can find final passage of this very critical bill because this bill will make sure that America competes and that America will see products that say ``USA.'' Madam Speaker, one major accomplishment less talked about but so important to all of us today and tomorrow is President Biden's historic Federal deficit cut. In a nutshell, President Biden has delivered the largest Federal deficit cut in the past 16 months than any other President's first 16 months. You see, Democrats understand that building a better America is not only about today, but it is also about our future generations. It is about building a better America for all of us here today but also for generations to come. That is why Biden is on track to drop the budget deficit by more than $1.6 trillion this year alone. In contrast, the Trump administration and my Republican colleagues raised the deficit every year that Mr. Trump was in office. President Biden and House Democrats will remain committed to lowering costs for working families, and I promise we will make good on that promise. We will continue delivering results for today and for generations to come.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2543, the Financial Services Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Economic Justice Act. Let me repeat the words, this is what we are talking about: racial equity, inclusion, and economic justice. I thank Chairwoman Waters for bringing this legislation forward and for her leadership on all these important issues. I thank Chairman Green who is the chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for navigating us through this bill being heard today. Specifically, I will speak about two bills which have been included in this important package, such as the Improving Language Access in Mortgage Servicing Act. According to the U.S. Census, over 20 percent--that is one out of five--households in the United States speak a language other than English, and nearly 9 percent of households lack a proficient English speaker. Homeownership is an opportunity to build generational wealth and speaking another language should never be a barrier in home buying and mortgaging. This legislation will establish language access requirements in the eight most commonly spoken languages in the United States, besides English, for creditors and servicers to ensure that Americans who lack English proficiency are not at a disadvantage while buying a home. Imagine getting something from your mortgage company telling you you owe something or that you are at risk of maybe being foreclosed on, but it is all in English, and you speak no English. Of course, you will end up being in foreclosure because you don't understand the notice that you are getting. This is what my bill is about. The second bill is the Studying Barriers to Housing Act, which has also been included in this package.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will require the GAO to conduct a study to identify housing barriers that contribute to the issue of homelessness. This study will find laws, regulations, common practices, and funding formulas that create barriers to housing in an effort to pinpoint the problems in our system that cause homelessness to continue and grow. I am proud of both of these bills, and I hope that both of these bills pass to increase expanded language access and to find the root causes of homelessness.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the record-breaking number of jobs created under President Biden's watch, his plan to lower costs for hard-working American families, and our plan to continue building a better America. Since President Biden took office, the economy has added 8.7 million new jobs--8.7 million new jobs. That is staggering. Fun fact, Mr. Speaker, this is the most jobs added in any President's first 16 months. I repeat: The most jobs added in any President's first 16 months. This is historic. The fact that the economy is booming is no accident. You see, President Biden laid the foundation for an amazing recovery through his American Rescue Plan and vaccination program. This plan got people back to work, kids back in schools, and helped the American economy bounce back. Together, with President Biden, House Democrats are not only bringing back jobs, but we are growing paychecks for households across the country. Because of this, unemployment is near historic lows, and even better, the number of Americans relying on unemployment benefits has dropped by more than 90 percent. This is huge. In short, our Nation has recovered 96 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic and is on track to return to prepandemic employment levels before the end of the year. Mr. Speaker, this is a direct result of President Biden's leadership, Congress' partnership, and the backing of the American people. While many Americans are back at work, we have heard calls from hardworking families struggling with the cost of inflation. Sadly, Putin's war against Ukraine is now the biggest single driver of inflation, but we have a plan for this too. I am proud to report that House Democrats and President Biden are acting to lower gas prices by fighting Putin's price hike. The United States is on track to produce a record amount of oil next year, and coming from Texas, that is music to our ears, and the President is working with the industry to accelerate this output. Democrats are also laser focused on lowering everyday costs for families at the grocery store, and they are also improving the supply chain. We are fighting for everyday Americans by reducing the cost of everyday goods through the COMPETES Act. This landmark legislation will lower costs and strengthen our supply chains by making more products right here in America: Made in USA. Again, this will create more jobs. We also have great news on the Federal deficit. Biden is still on track to drop the budget deficit by $1.6 trillion this year alone. Mr. Speaker, another fun fact, President Biden has cut the deficit more this year than any President in history. I repeat, more than any President in history. In contrast, Mr. Speaker, the Trump administration increased the Federal budget deficit every single year they were in office. All things considered, President Biden and House Democrats are not only working together to continue building a better America for all Americans, but we are delivering on that promise, and we will continue to do just that--delivering on our promise.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7910, the Protecting Our Kids Act, and H.R. 2377, the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. In Texas, our souls are crushed, and our hearts are still broken. We stand in solidarity with our friends and neighbors in Uvalde and communities across the Nation, mourning the lives of those who have lost their lives to gun violence. Empathy, love, and morality are calling upon us to pass these bills that are commonsense legislation to reduce gun violence and save children's lives. Let's not be deceived by the absurd proposition to arm our teachers in schools. Let's let schools be schools. A teacher should be armed with books, not guns. Children need to focus on learning the ABCs, not how to dodge bullets. I urge my colleagues across the aisle to consult their conscience, not the NRA, and vote ``yes'' on these measures.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I was attending a meeting in preparation for a hearing for one of my committee assignments, and was not released timely; therefore, I was unable to vote. Had I been present for this vote, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 190.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, due to technical difficulties, I am recorded as ``Not Voting'' on Final Passage of H.R. 5129. I was present, I proxy voted for three members, and I intended to vote YEA on Roll Call No. 182.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in outrage due to recent attacks on women's reproductive rights and now, as we have seen, maybe plans to attack other fundamental rights. Republicans are using this leaked opinion as fuel to take their extreme policies even further. I say to my fellow colleagues, if Republicans overturn Roe, they will take aim at other privacy rights, such as same-sex marriage and access to contraception. Indeed, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott now wants to overturn a Supreme Court decision that ensures public education for immigrant children. In West Virginia, a white nationalist wants to take aim at Brown v. Board of Education, which outlawed racial segregation in public schools. I ask you, what comes next? Madam Speaker, we are fighting to protect a woman's freedom to make her own healthcare decisions. But we will also be fighting the fight of all fights to protect all our freedoms. Don't mess with women's reproductive rights.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise with outrage at the recent cruel attack on women's reproductive rights. Through a leak, we have learned about the Supreme Court draft opinion that would terrifyingly overturn Roe v. Wade if finalized. This is shocking. You see, I know what happens when Republicans strip reproductive rights away from women. I have seen it in my home State of Texas, which has the strictest reproductive healthcare laws in the country, S.B. 8. Each month, nearly 1,500 Texans are forced into such desperation where they travel to surrounding States for a chance to receive their healthcare. Many times these Texans are forced to travel in unsafe conditions, putting themselves in harm's way. Mr. Speaker, we will not go back. We must not go back. I urge my Senate colleagues to codify Roe v. Wade into law. We must protect a woman's right to reproductive healthcare.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my colleague from New Jersey Mr. Gottheimer's bill, H.R. 5914, the Empowering States to Protect Seniors from Bad Actors Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor. Increasingly, senior investors and consumers have become the target of financial exploitation. Sadly, one in five older Americans have been victimized by financial fraud. Madam Speaker, in today's world of technology and telemarketing calls and robocalls, it is only getting worse. I can tell you, Madam Speaker, that I have had many lives in my life. I am like a cat. The first life I had was as a geriatric social worker. I saw it back then, but it was a little bit different. Now, with technology and all the high-tech things that one can do, it gets worse and worse. The numbers are getting higher, and the dollar values are getting higher. Protecting seniors from financial exploitation is critical to ensuring that seniors can maintain a secure retirement. This bill will help do that. It creates a senior investor protection grant program to be implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which will work closely with State securities regulators to protect older investors and educate seniors about financial matters and financial scams. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters and Representative Gottheimer for bringing this bipartisan bill before us today. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I look forward to seeing it come to fruition.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman for bringing this bill forward, a bill that is literally very important, not just to the Guillen family but to so many constituents in my district. I also recognize that we are in the midst of celebrating the 1-year anniversary of Vanessa Guillen's death. Vanessa was one of my constituents before she was transferred to Fort Hood military base for her Army training. She was a rising star before her life was tragically cut short. As Members of Congress, we have the moral obligation to honor Vanessa's memory and enact change that will end violence in our military installations. Her story has captivated Americans of all backgrounds. It brought much-needed attention to sexual assault in the military, and it has led to changes being implemented at Fort Hood and at military bases throughout the Nation and, in fact, the world. I will not rest until there is justice for Vanessa Guillen and her family. There is still much work that will need to be done. But the naming of a post office in her memory this year of her first anniversary would be but a small gesture on the part of this Congress in naming a post office after her to memorialize her work and her legacy.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize two Houston-area leaders, Pastor David Smith and his wife, Lady Linda Smith. Many strong community leaders go unnoticed. They serve silently every day and draw very little attention to themselves, quietly doing their work. Yet through their service, they enrich and improve the lives of everyone around them. Pastor Smith and Lady Smith are both quiet, everyday heroes who put smiles on faces across the district and particularly in the Eastex/ Jensen Freeway community. Through their faith-based work, they spread positivity and hope to countless Houstonians. They are also very active in community activities and are the lead organizers of the Houston area's annual Jensen Jubilee Fall Festival. Pastor Smith is more like the mayor of the Eastex/Jensen Freeway area. Pastor Smith and Lady Linda Smith embody the Houston spirit of service, compassion, and volunteerism. I am proud they are my constituents, and I thank them for their selfless community service.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the incredible impact the bipartisan Affordable Insulin Now Act will have on Americans across the Nation. It is no secret diabetes poses a major health burden to Americans across our country. Texas, in particular, suffers greatly from the effects of type 2 diabetes. Every day, new Texans are diagnosed. On top of that, the rate of new cases increases every single year. This topic, Mr. Speaker, hits very close to home. I have seen firsthand the hurdles diabetes creates for families simply looking to live a quiet life and be alone and have a good, productive life. In my family, my mother faced uphill health battles because of diabetes most of her adult life. She died eventually of diabetes complications. Diabetes runs in my family. In fact, my doctor tells me that no matter what I do, I may end up getting diabetes. I am one of 10 children. Five of us have already gotten diabetes and are dependent on insulin. Sadly, this epidemic disproportionately impacts older adults, especially Latinos, minorities, and populations with lower levels of education. It remains one of the leading causes of death in Texas and the United States. In my own home county of Harris County, diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death. Even when purchased through Medicare, insulin is more than three times as expensive in the United States than in the U.K. The bipartisan Affordable Insulin Now Act is truly needed to save lives. The Affordable Insulin Now Act caps insulin copays at $35 per month or 25 percent of an insurance plan's negotiated price, whichever is lower. It is a great first step, and it will save lives. But more must be done. You see, Mr. Speaker, Americans without health insurance will not benefit from this bill. This will help those residents who are fortunate to already have health insurance, and we welcome this support. Again, it is a great first step. But much more is very needed. Texas is the State with the highest rate of uninsured individuals and, in my district, 33 percent of the residents in my district do not have health insurance. In fact, Mr. Speaker, my district has the highest number of uninsured people than in any other district in the Nation. To make matters worse, diabetes is highly concentrated in east Texas, the area where I live. It pains me that these folks were not included in the bill. The immense health and emotional challenges diabetes brings to households are burdensome enough; but its economic strain is ruthless to families not fortunate enough to have insurance. Because of corporate greed and companies focused only on profits, Texans without medical insurance face astronomical prices for insulin. In short, people with diabetes have medical expenses approximately 2.3 times higher than those who do not have diabetes. The out-of-pocket costs for healthcare and insulin have crippled hardworking Americans across our country. It has gotten so bad that one in four people have rationed, rationed lifesaving insulin because they could not afford proper dosage amounts. This is unacceptable and wrong, and we must do better. No one--I repeat, no one--should have to gamble with their health by rationing insulin to make ends meet. The bipartisan Affordable Insulin Now Act will save lives, and it is a great step forward. But I will continue fighting for residents across my district who do not currently have health insurance but do need insulin. We will continue to fight until we get it done.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the plaza dedication in honor of Jose ``Joe'' Campos Torres taking place Saturday, April 2, 2022. On May 5, 1977, Army veteran Joe Campos Torres died of injuries inflicted by several on-duty officers of the Houston Police Department (HPD). Following a cruel, racially-motivated beating that evening, the police officers took him to the city jail where the jail staff refused to process Joe due to his grave visible injuries. Officers were instructed to transport him to the hospital for medical care. Outrageously, the officers instead pushed Joe off a wharf into the Buffalo Bayou. Tragically, he did not survive. Joe Campos Torres was taken from his family and our community too soon, but his legacy was the light shone on violent police incidents plaguing Latinos and minorities in 1977. This set a new course of police reform for HPD. In 2021, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner issued a public apology for the brutal murder at the hands of HPD officers more than 40 years ago. Following sincere attempts to address racism within their ranks, today, HPD reflects the diversity of the city and is committed to building powerful relationships with minority communities. Joe Campos Torres' sacrifice sparked this movement and continues to protect countless numbers of Latino and minority community members. Madam Speaker, let the record show Jose ``Joe'' Campos Torres is a national and local hero. With this plaza dedication in honor of his life, residents across Houston and the State of Texas will welcome a permanent memorial worthy of his legacy.