Sylvia Garcia

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Chair, this week my Republican colleagues are fast-tracking a bill that puts polluters over people, H.R. 1. Let's be clear: This bill won't do anything, not one thing to help American consumers and families to lower their energy costs. Yes, we do want that light on, but this bill is not going to help us get there. Instead, it would simply repeal household energy rebates passed by House Democrats, like those from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. We shouldn't have to choose between dirty air and polluted water just to meet the energy needs of the future. We simply don't have to. We could work together in a bipartisan way to address energy costs, but extreme MAGA Republicans refuse to do that. We could work together on issues like the electrical grid liability and security, an issue that is all too important to us in my home State of Texas. Instead, Republican-backed H.R. 1 picks winners and losers. The wealthy and well-connected win and workers lose. I stand with workers. Workers in my district know that new energy jobs and clean energy jobs are the jobs of the future. We depend on them. Mr. Chair, I oppose this bill because this bill does not protect those workers. I urge my colleagues to do the same. Oppose this bill.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this week, House Republicans are moving forward with the polluters over people act. The polluters over people act does nothing to lower energy costs for everyday American families and will increase our deficit by $2.4 billion. Let me repeat that. It will increase the deficit by $2.4 billion. This bill will eliminate bedrock environmental protections, safeguarding public health, and keeping our air and water clean, leaving Americans with higher energy costs. Instead of tackling climate change, extreme MAGA Republicans are focused on undoing our historic clean energy plan, which has already created 100,000 jobs. We need more energy production across the board. Oil and gas workers in my district know that energy jobs can mean a real shot at the American Dream for working families. We shouldn't have to choose between dirty air and polluted water to meet the energy needs of the future. I see the consequences of pollution within my own district in Houston as we rank eighth in the country for the highest ozone levels. Neighbors in and around my district face respiratory problems, heart disease, and other health issues caused by exposure to air pollution and smog. Constituents in my nearby neighborhoods suffer the most, often living in the shadows of these polluting industries. Houston is not alone. Across the country, we see the impacts of pollution on public health. We have a responsibility to reduce pollution. Clean air is a public health issue. We need to do more to help our communities. That is why I am fighting for strong, robust funding for clean air programs and air monitoring in my district. Instead of keeping our families and communities safe, House Republicans are making it easier for big companies to pollute without consequences. While House Republicans play games and raise the deficit, House Democrats will do everything to continue to put people over politics-- not polluters--every day to meet the real needs of the American people because everyone deserves a good job with benefits and a shot at the American Dream without giving up their right to breathe clean air. It is our duty and responsibility to protect our God-given right to clean air for ourselves and for our future generations. We cannot afford to wait any longer.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I was hopeful that this Congress would be able to work together on bipartisan permitting reform. Unfortunately, it looks like extreme MAGA Republicans are hijacking H.R. 1 to put polluters over people. They seek to silence the voice of the community while doing little to nothing to lower energy costs. Climate change is real. We need more American energy production across the board. Oil and gas workers in my district know that energy jobs can mean a real shot at the American Dream for working families. This extreme MAGA proposal won't create all the energy jobs we must to remain globally competitive, but it does do this: It increases the deficit by $2.4 billion. We shouldn't have to choose between dirty air and polluted water just to meet the energy needs of the future. H.R. 1 picks winners and losers. The wealthy and well-connected win; workers lose. I believe in workers. House Democrats will continue to lower energy costs for everyone and give future generations a cleaner, healthier environment because we put people over polluters.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this week, we mark the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Thanks to President Obama, Americans have been reassured that they can receive the care they need. Since it was passed into law, the Affordable Care Act has lowered healthcare costs for families and insured more than 35 million Americans. Democrats' passage of the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act made ACA subsidies more generous, which lowered health insurance costs and helped 29,000 people in my district, Mr. Speaker. Now, they have access to affordable health insurance. House Democrats continue to protect the Affordable Care Act today. While MAGA Republicans support proposals to cut Americans' healthcare, House Democrats will always stand to protect Americans' healthcare. I will always put people over politics--today, tomorrow, and every day.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, MAGA Republicans continue to use political stunts to try to distract the American people with unnecessary legislation. This week, House Republicans are advancing the Politics Over Parents Act. This legislation is part of a harmful and nationwide extreme MAGA Republican crusade toward censorship and book bans. It would deprive our students of an accurate and fact-based education. Extreme Republicans are bringing culture wars into our classrooms. I want to be clear, Mr. Speaker. I support a parent's right to be involved in their child's education. That is why, together with President Biden, Democrats are delivering the support and resources our schools need. House Democrats are working together to provide our American children with the highest quality level of education everywhere in America. That is what parents want for their children. Parents want their children to feel safe in their schools. Moms worry every day, everywhere, about whether or not they are going to get that text or that call about a shooter at their child's school. Recently, Mr. Speaker, I spoke at a seniors' event, and afterwards visited with the seniors for Q&A. This question came up from a grandmom. She is worried about her grandbaby. When will we do something about guns? Will her grandbaby be safe? Sadly, today, the leading cause of death in children is firearms, but House Republicans have not held a single hearing on gun safety. Instead, they have found the time to ban and censor books in school libraries. House Republicans continue to waste time on political stunts. House Democrats, on the other hand, are focused on improving public education and making our schools safer. Americans want Congress to work together to solve real problems. House Republicans need to stop wasting time on circus-style hearings and divisive legislation that, frankly, will go nowhere. The real problem in our schools isn't books or critical race theory; it is keeping guns out of schools, addressing teacher shortages, and keeping students and staff safe. House Democrats will always continue to put children over guns, books over bullets because every child deserves to go to school without fear of losing their life.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this month we are celebrating Women's History Month. Women's History Month is a time to recognize all the work remarkable women across the world, past and present, have achieved. It is important to reflect on our accomplishments and recognize women trailblazers worldwide. It is incredible to see how far we have come. Mr. Speaker, while we have cause to celebrate all our achievements, our work isn't finished, and more must be done. Reproductive rights are being threatened. Many women are still fighting for equal pay for equal work, and the ERA is not in the Constitution. The fight continues until women are given the respect and dignity they rightly deserve. Let's celebrate and fight for a better tomorrow for women across the world. ``Long live women.'' ``Que viva la mujer.''

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to lay out a few facts about the debt ceiling. Raising the debt ceiling is about meeting obligations the government has already made and has nothing to do with new spending. Since World War I, we have raised the debt ceiling under every single President--every single President. So let's remember a few facts: The national debt under the Trump administration rose significantly by $8 trillion, a total of roughly 25 percent of the entire debt at the time he left office. That is one- quarter of the entire debt by President Trump. Republicans voted three times--three times--to raise the debt limit under the Trump administration. So where was the Republican outrage then? President Biden has lowered the deficit by $1.7 trillion during the first 2 years of office and has a plan to reduce it even more. Mr. Speaker, yet House Republicans used their very first bill to hand a giveaway to big corporations and billionaires that cheat on their taxes, adding an explosive $114 billion to the deficit, and still no plan to reduce debt. House Democrats put people over politics, solutions over rhetoric.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, House Democrats have always put people over politics, but House Republicans continue to prioritize their own power and pocketbooks instead of solving problems. House Democrats have lowered kitchen table costs for Americans by lowering healthcare coverage prices, capping out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, and giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices. Additionally, we have helped make clean energy more affordable to American families through rebates and tax credits. Meanwhile, House Republicans continue threatening to raise taxes on families and cut Social Security and Medicare funding. Our seniors are dependent on these vital programs. These extreme MAGA Republicans are focused on political games at the risk of thousands of Americans' livelihoods. I will always put people over politics today, tomorrow, and every day. People over politics.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we feel the pain of the people of East Palestine. We stand with them in demands for change in safety in the railroad industry. It is not just what trains carry. It is their weight, it is their length, it is their mechanics, it is the number of people on the train, and it is about damage to the neighborhoods and the environment. Mr. Speaker, my district has the most reported roads blocked by trains of any district in the Nation. This means that the trains disrupt a lot of activity in our neighborhoods, and we get many complaints about blocked crossings blocking kids getting to school, fire trucks and ambulances not being able to get to buildings and to homes, and just a lot of damage done to our neighborhoods. So the trains are not just about the derailment of East Palestine, but it is also about the damage they do every day particularly, again, in my district that has so many railroads. I know, Mr. Speaker, that you know about this. What we will be doing today and the following weeks is to focus more on rail safety. I had the FRA administrator in the district last week, and I am pleased to say that today we will be filing a bill called Don't Block Our Communities Act to address some of these issues.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, House Democrats are putting people over politics by lowering healthcare costs and creating better- paying jobs. We are cutting costs for healthcare coverage, capping insulin at $35 for Medicare patients, and giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices. We expanded the Affordable Care Act program which will lower premiums for over 13 million Americans. Just in my district alone, 62,000 seniors with Medicare will pay less for prescription drug coverage, and 29,000 people in my district will have access to affordable healthcare coverage due to lowered premiums under the Inflation Reduction Act. Meanwhile, some extreme MAGA Republicans are threatening to cut Social Security and Medicare. House Democrats will always protect seniors from Medicare cuts or Social Security cuts because we put seniors over politics. In fact, House Democrats increased benefits by 8.7 percent last year to ensure a dignified retirement for Americans who worked hard for these vital benefits. Let me repeat that: They worked hard for these vital benefits. This increase helped more than 80,000 people in my district who are on Social Security. That is more than 10 percent of my constituents. These are retired workers, disabled workers, widows, and children who need these critical funds to survive. They have earned them. They paid into them. Social Security and Medicare are a lifeline for our seniors and especially those in my district. We will always defend these programs, and we will always put seniors over politics. We will never cut Medicare. We will never cut Social Security. We will fight for our working families until the end. Madam Speaker, House Democrats are creating good-paying jobs for all our American families. Democrats have created a record 12 million jobs since President Biden took office, and we aren't stopping there. Let me repeat that: 12 million, and we are not stopping there. That is almost as many jobs in 2 years as any President has created in a 4-year term. House Republicans are trying to undermine all this through bad lies and made-up stuff suggesting that President Biden has hurt our economy. He has not. Republicans want to raise the cost of everything 30 percent while giving the wealthiest Americans cuts on their taxes. This is outrageous and just plain wrong. While extreme MAGA Republicans hand out tax breaks to the wealthy, Democrats are focused on lowering everyday Americans' costs. We will continue to fight for working families. I am not willing to use politics over people. I will always put people over politics and always, always people first.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, House Democrats are putting people over politics by lowering kitchen-table costs, creating better-paying jobs, cutting costs for healthcare coverage, and capping out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors. However, extreme MAGA Republicans have an economic plan that would do just the opposite. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans are set to advance a new 30 percent national sales tax. This will increase the average family's costs for groceries and essentials by hundreds of dollars each and every month. Some MAGA Republicans say they want to cut Social Security and Medicare, and working families will lose their hard-earned benefits. They are putting special interests of the few over the working-class majority. House Democrats will continue to fight for working families. We will always put people over politics and seniors over party, and we will always, always put people first.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Michael N. Mosteit. Mike was a trailblazer in the labor movement, a dedicated public servant, and a loving family man. As a member of IBEW Local 66 for over 50 years, he strived to ensure our workers had fair representation and proper wages. I had the honor of standing shoulder to shoulder with Mike many times--defending workers, organizing, walking the picket line, winning, and sometimes trying and trying again. The work was never about the money. It was about fighting for the quality of life and transformational difference a good job can do for a family. That is what leadership is: wanting something better for others than you have for yourself. That was Mike Mosteit. Our hearts go out to his loving wife, Carol, a wonderful educator in her own right, and their son, Joshua. Rest in peace, Mike. We will keep up the fight until we meet again on another picket line. God bless.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as we heard last night at the State of the Union Address, President Biden's first 2 years delivered a record-breaking number of new jobs. In total, 12 million new jobs were created for hardworking Americans. I repeat that: 12 million new jobs. That is as many jobs in 2 years as any President has created in a 4- year term. America also has seen the lowest unemployment rate, at 3.4 percent, since 54 years ago. The Biden administration fought hard to deliver big results for Medicare and other programs to help seniors and working families. Democrats were able to make changes that will help millions of Americans by lowering prescription drug prices for Medicare patients. The following improvements have also taken place. Insulin has been capped at $35 per month for Medicare patients. Mr. Speaker, that strikes home because we have a lot of diabetes in my own family. Medicare can now negotiate the price of high-cost drugs, which further drops prices. We also provide additional free vaccines, including for shingles, pneumonia, and hepatitis, under the Medicare program. On top of all this, we expanded the Affordable Care Act, which will lower premiums for 13 million Americans. The President's economic agenda is generating investments across the country and revitalizing communities left behind. We are giving families more breathing room and standing up for workers by banning noncompete agreements; rewarding work, not wealth; and fighting to ensure that everyone can earn a living wage. For the next 2 years, Democrats will work together to fight for our hardworking families. The President knows that we must finish the job with affordable childcare, home care, sick leave, paid leave, and the child tax credit. Mr. Speaker, we must put people over politics and solutions over rhetoric.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, once again, House Republicans are prioritizing extreme political stunts over problem-solving for the American people. Speaker McCarthy's purely partisan move to strip Representative Omar from her committee is not only a political stunt but a blow to the integrity of our democratic institutions and solves no problem. In modern American history, the punishment of stripping Members of Congress of their committee assignments has been reserved only for the most egregious wrongdoing, including threats to colleagues. Congresswoman Omar has neither threatened a colleague, nor has she committed any egregious wrongdoing. If Republicans want to degrade the integrity of the House and its committees, it will be up to Democrats to stand up against these efforts. We will always stand for integrity in our House. Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose the efforts today by the extreme MAGA Republicans in this political stunt that solves no problems.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, extreme MAGA Republicans have an economic plan that will hurt working families. House Republicans are set to advance a new 30 percent national sales tax. Let me repeat that: 30 percent national sales tax. This will increase the average family's cost for groceries and everyday essentials by about $100 every single month. On top of that, they want to cut Social Security, cut Medicare. Working families will lose their hard-earned benefits. They are putting their special interests over the working class. They are putting special interests over people. Rest assured, Madam Speaker, no matter what extreme MAGA Republicans do, House Democrats will continue to fight for working families. It is the middle class that makes our country strong. We will be there to put them over politics. We will be there to put people first.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the resilience of residents of Houston, Pasadena, and our neighbors in Deer Park and Baytown that were hit by the tornado earlier this week. We were hit hard, and it devastated our area, but the people are resilient. The tornado left dozens of families displaced in my district with homes without roofs and surrounded by debris. Thankfully, there were no deaths or serious injuries, and our spirit is not broken. In this time of recovery, it is important to remember that our communities always come together in time of need. I thank all the first responders, the workers who helped restore our electricity, the people who picked up the debris, and those who were there immediately to help our neighbors. That is what we are all about, helping each other. We continue to rebuild our communities because we are strong together. As long as I continue to represent Texas-29, I will ensure that our district is well prepared and has the best available resources and information for recovery. We are Houston strong. We are Pasadena strong. We are Texas strong.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to sound the alarm. Extreme MAGA Republicans have an economic plan that will hurt working families. For 2 years House Democrats have delivered for everyday Americans. The economic progress that House Democrats and President Biden have led is simply remarkable. So let's talk about this significant growth Democrats have made possible by President Biden's economic plan. We created 11 million jobs. Under Trump we lost 2.9 million jobs. The unemployment rate is at 3.5 percent--one of the lowest rates in our history. Under Trump it was 6.3 percent. We lowered healthcare costs for working families. Under Trump, 3 million more people lost their insurance. We capped insulin at $35 for our seniors on Medicare. We expanded Medicare and Social Security benefits. This is progress, but this progress is threatened by extreme MAGA Republicans. While most Americans are worried about post-COVID prices at the grocery store, the extreme MAGA Republicans in charge of the House GOP want to increase the average family's costs for groceries and everyday essentials by hundreds of dollars every month. That is right, Madam Speaker, raising it by hundreds a month. They are doing this by championing a new 30 percent national sales tax. The House MAGA Republicans would jack up the prices on the products that we rely on. Imagine paying in my district 30 percent more when you go to HEB for your groceries. This kind of blanket tax increase is failed economic policy that attacks the foundation of our economic growth and hurts working families. My Republican friends all talk about responsible spending and balanced budgets. Families will not be able to balance their own budgets if the extreme MAGA wing gets its way. Madam Speaker, we have already witnessed what this so-called leadership looks like. The very first bill the GOP put before the House will make it easier to hand tax breaks to the wealthy and well connected. They are not just trying to make it easier for the ultrapowerful to pay even less in taxes. Sadly, extreme Republicans want to gut Social Security, eliminate Medicare, and reverse new lower drug prices House Democrats just fought hard to get for working families. If they have their way, Social Security and Medicare as we know it will end. Working families will lose the benefits they have earned by paying into a system for decades. In my home district, there are more than 80,000 people living on their Social Security income. That is more than 10 percent of my constituents. These are retired workers, disabled workers, widows, and children who need these critical funds to survive. Let me repeat: They earned their benefits by paying into the system for many, many decades. When extreme MAGA Republicans fight and say they don't want to raise the debt limit, I want everyone to know what that really means. It is not economic theory; it is political posturing. They raised the debt limit every time Trump was in office, and in fact, Trump is responsible for 25 percent of our current debt. When they say they are going to fight, it really is about hurting people. It would mean Social Security payments won't be sent, and people already living hand to mouth won't get the money they earned. This is totally unacceptable. The full faith and credit of the United States means more than paying our government's bills on time. It means keeping groceries in the refrigerator and medicine in the cabinet for many people in my district. House Democrats will continue to fight for working families. It is the middle class that makes our country strong. We will always put people over politics. We will always put people first.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the school board members from the seven school districts in my district in recognition of School Board Member Appreciation Month. I am incredibly grateful for the extremely devoted school board members across my district from Aldine, Houston, Galena Park, Channelview, Sheldon, Pasadena, and Humble ISDs. These folks are doing incredible work on behalf of the people and are the most important public servants I can think of. They are shaping the next generation of leaders by ensuring our schools are places where students can learn, explore, and dream. I know that keeping our schools running smoothly and safely comes with plenty of late nights and a lot of behind-the-scenes work. I am truly grateful for the work of all these school board members and their service to the next generation of leaders. I thank them for always putting children over politics, classrooms over bathrooms, books over bullets, and teaching over talking points.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the key accomplishments Democrats will deliver in today's Federal Government funding bill. Expanding healthcare is a top priority for my district. Democrats are putting people over politics by investing in our public health system and expanding access to quality healthcare. Democrats will deliver permanent, mandatory, and continuous coverage for the 40 million children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. We are making investments in mental health, which will improve access to medication-assisted treatment, expand our mental health workforce, and increase coverage of mental health services. Investing in physical and mental health care is investing in our families, our workers, and our communities. It is about putting people over politics. It is about investing in our children. I am proud that we will be voting on this bill today, and I plan to vote for it.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the legacy of a local Houston legend, the late Lupe Fraga. Lupe Fraga, known affectionately as ``Champ'' was a community legend who grew up in Houston's East End in my district. Over the decades, Champ became known as a pioneer in the Latino business community, a dedicated public servant, and an honorable veteran who served in the United States Army. Champ founded Tejas Office Products in 1962 to provide Houstonians with high-quality and affordable office supplies. As a businessowner, he also supported local school supply drives and helped support minority-owned businesses in our region. He eventually served on the Houston branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, was a regent at the Texas A&M University, and a member and director of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Champ was one of Houston's best. He was a true leader. Champ and his friendly smile will be missed by everyone. My condolences and best wishes to his family as they put him to rest in Houston today.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to express my strong support for S. 5168, the Energy Security and Lightering Independence Act of 2022 by Senators Padilla and Cornyn. Mr. Speaker, I thank my Senate counterparts for their work on this important bipartisan legislation, as well as Chairman Nadler and his staff for their efforts in getting this bill to the floor today. I am proud to champion and sponsor this bill in the House, and I encourage all my colleagues to support the swift passage of this bipartisan bill. Lightering is the ship-to-ship transfer of crude oil and liquid natural gas from a smaller vessel onto a larger vessel, or vice versa, for import and export. These ships are just plain too big to come in, so smaller ship comes in. Approximately, 74 percent of U.S. exports and 44 percent of U.S. imports are conducted by lightering. Lightering vessels are foreign- flagged and therefore staffed with foreign crew. These workers are highly trained, skilled, long-term employees whose sole function is to work on the lightering and get the transfer done. They are not authorized to do any other work offshore or on dock. Currently, lightering crews transit through a U.S. port under a C-1/D visa, which allows workers a 29-day work period--only 29 days. However, under the current structure, lightering crewmembers do not fit well into this visa category because they rarely, if ever, transit for less than 29 days. Because those visas are only valid for up to 29 days and the crewmembers' shift is often for 180 days, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, as has already been mentioned, must parole these crews to extend their visa time consistent with their work schedule. Let's be clear--paroles are burdensome for the workers and CBP, and there are additional costs to taxpayers. These crewmembers are critical to the U.S. supply chain. If lightering crewmembers cannot enter the U.S. under a proper visa, lightering vessels cannot be appropriately staffed. This could result in delays and bottlenecks for U.S. energy exports or imports, impacting all of us. We cannot let this happen. Therefore, my bill will bolster our energy security to ensure our lightering vessels are properly staffed. It makes a necessary technical correction to codify an existing State Department practice of issuing C-1/D visas for lightering. Again, this simply codifies a practice saving taxpayer dollars. It would also allow crewmembers of lightering ships to work in the United States for up to 180 days in order for them to do their jobs thoroughly and completely. This bill will bring more clarity to the lightering industry visa process for both the workers and all the U.S. Federal agencies involved, saving us tax dollars, and making things more efficient. It will protect and secure the U.S. energy supply chain, which is a very important part of the economy in my district. It has already passed out of the Senate with bipartisan, unanimous support. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to sponsor this bill in the House. I thank my colleagues from Texas, Messrs. Crenshaw, Weber, Gonzales, Cloud, and Mr. Palazzo. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this very important piece of legislation, and let's get it to the President's desk at a time when we need to ensure that our supply chain continues without any issues. Mr. Speaker, let's keep America's supply chain strong and please vote for this bill.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Maloney for all the support she has given me in getting this bill to the floor. It looks like we are almost there. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give my strong support for S. 4411, the Vanessa Guillen postal facility renaming bill. I thank my Senate counterparts for their work on this important legislation and all of my colleagues in the Texas delegation for cosponsoring this legislation. I am proud to champion and sponsor this bill in the House, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support its swift passage today. Vanessa was born to the parents of immigrants and grew up in my district in Houston. She was a standout athlete in high school, and from a young age, she knew she wanted to serve her country in the U.S. Army. She would tell people: I am going to join the Army. She participated in the ROTC in her high school and knew that Army life was for her. She enlisted right after high school graduation and was eventually assigned to Fort Hood military base in Texas. She was a rising star before her life was tragically cut short in April 2020 at the young age of 20 years old. Her story has brought much-needed attention to address sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military. Her story has led to changes being implemented at Fort Hood and other military installations throughout the country and throughout the world. Mr. Speaker, we can't bring Vanessa back, but we can continue her legacy by renaming the post office close to her high school in her honor. This building will serve as a reminder to the community of her sacrifice and dedication to our country. I am proud to champion and sponsor this bill. It has already passed the House earlier this Congress on a bipartisan basis. Mr. Speaker, I ask for a ``yes'' vote on S. 4411. Let's continue Vanessa's legacy. Let's continue fighting for justice for Vanessa.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would have voted yea had I been present for Roll Call 524, Bill Number S. 3905 on December 14, 2022.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate Galena Park Independent School District's very own North Shore High School football team for their second trip in a row to the Texas State Championship. Located in my district, the North Shore Senior High School is home to a group of standout athletes and students, both academically and athletically. Through their hard work and preservation, our local stars will now play against Duncanville High School for a chance to defend their State championship. I am truly so proud of all their accomplishments both on and off the field. They embody Texas' spirit of excellence and go-get-'em spirit. Stay focused and play strong, Mustangs, because all of Galena Park in the Houston region is rooting for you this Saturday. Best wishes and God bless.

Ms. GARCIA of Texas

Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 20 innocent little children and 6 brave teachers who were taken from their families 10 years ago today at Sandy Hook Elementary School. I truthfully can't even comprehend the immense pain that these families must have felt and continue to feel every day. I never want another family to experience this type of loss. That is why we must remain committed to ending the gun violence epidemic that plagues our country. Earlier this year, House Democrats passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which President Biden swiftly signed into law. It will save lives by funding violence prevention programs at schools, expanding background checks for those under 21 years of age, strengthening mental health resources, and so much more, but the fight is not over. I promise to continue fighting until we are all saved from gun violence because we owe this to the victims of gun violence, their families, and their children. We will always put children over the NRA. We will always put people over politics.