Steven Horsford

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the following proclamation recognizing Marcus Mason. Whereas, Marcus Mason, at the age of 21, worked on a winning Congressional campaign, before beginning his tenure as the youngest Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill. He served the people of California's 37th Congressional District, fighting to save the Long Beach Naval Shipyard and secured federal funding to repair Compton Creek, saving nearby communities from damaging floods. Whereas, Marcus Mason served as Legislative Director for the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald and to this day continues to serve as a trusted advisor and confidant to elected officials from California, from Sacramento to Los Angeles, and all the way to Washington, D.C. Whereas, Marcus Mason led the government affairs office for Amtrak and helped shepherd the company through the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Whereas, Marcus Mason became a senior equity partner at the Madison Group in 2007, where he dedicated his free time to mentoring and growing Black talent in the areas of government policy. Whereas, as immediate past president of WGRG, he founded the Tin Cup Awards, which recognize the contributions of Black public policy and government affairs professionals. Whereas, he has mentored countless colleagues over the years and provided advice and guidance to new and seasoned professionals alike. Whereas, in addition to his mentorship work, he has fundraised and secured millions of dollars in support of Black non-profit organizations, including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute. Whereas, Marcus Mason served as an advisor to the campaigns of President Barack Obama and the Obama-Biden White House. Whereas, Marcus Mason served as Chairman of President Biden's African American Leadership Finance Council and serves as a Senior Advisor to the campaign's Co-Chairman and senior leadership team. And whereas, President Biden appointed Marcus Mason to serve as a member of the Democratic National Committee, where he continues to advocate for Black staff. Now, therefore, I, Steven Horsford, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and Representative of the 4th District of Nevada, do hereby proclaim this official recognition of Marcus Mason for his tremendous work and contributions to government affairs, policy and public service.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Congressman Jonathan Jackson, I commend you and Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick for co-chairing tonight's Special Order hour. I rise today with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus to address the recent comments made on the House floor by Representative Eli Crane of Arizona during last week's debate on the National Defense Authorization Act. While offering an amendment that would prohibit the Pentagon from participating in race-based concepts in hiring, promotion, or retention in our military, Representative Crane stated that the military was never intended to be ``inclusive,'' adding that the military strength is ``not in its diversity.'' Representative Crane would go on to refer to Black servicemen and servicewomen who defend our country with their lives as ``colored people.'' These words harken back to a dark and racist time in our country's history and should not be tolerated. Representative Crane's comment on the House floor was unprofessional, wholly inappropriate, and unbecoming of a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Furthermore, to have a word like that spoken anywhere but here on the House floor in the year 2023 actually speaks to the very need for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sadly, in the days since, we have heard from Members on the other side of the aisle who have tried to provide cover for Representative Crane. We need to be absolutely clear here tonight. For a Member of this body to use the words ``colored people'' in this Chamber in 2023 is unconscionable, and it calls for nothing short of full condemnation. From the Speaker of this body to the leadership on the other side of the aisle, to those who claim to be allies of the Congressional Black Caucus, your silence is deafening. Representative Crane has publicly stated that he misspoke during debate. However, he has yet to formally apologize directly to his colleagues, including our former chair, the previous chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Joyce Beatty, who was handling debate on the very amendment before this body, or to the servicemen and servicewomen who deserve far more respect than the indignity of being reduced to a racial slur on the House floor; to our veterans, our veteran servicemembers who have had to deal with the consequences of segregation in our military, of being referred to as colored, even on the battlefields while fighting for our freedom and our justice. What Representative Crane said last week while defending his amendment was shocking, but it was not unsurprising, given what the Republicans have shown us every single day on this issue. Right now, in fact, the U.S. Marine Corps is without a confirmed commandant for the first time in over 160 years. Why? All because one Senator believes his political agenda is more important than the servicemembers of our military. That same Senator went on to say he thinks that White nationalists aren't racist. Well, what are they, then? MAGA Republicans have made it their entire political agenda to fight against ``wokeism.'' Every time they use the word woke, I think they mean Black. They want to ban diversity. They want to ban equity and inclusion programs and erase Black history from the classrooms. Ironically, what Representative Crane's comments made clear is that the very diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that they fight against are necessary. They are necessary in boardrooms, in our schools, in the halls of Congress, and, yes, in our military, which grows more diverse every day. In fact, more than 40 percent of our servicemembers today are servicemembers from a broad array: African American, Latino, Asian American, and Pacific Islanders who are serving our country and do not deserve to be called anything other than honorable. Instead of prioritizing military readiness and the needs of our servicemembers, MAGA Republicans are more concerned with stoking culture wars to appease their base, which will only make it more difficult to recruit servicemembers from diverse backgrounds. In fact, I am a member of the Armed Services Committee, and when we were discussing this in committee, I put into the Record a report from the Gold Star families who conducted a survey of our servicemembers and their families who expressed the very concerns around racial tolerance and discrimination as a factor of whether or not people wanted to join the military. If you are so concerned about recruitment, you might actually want to focus on eliminating the issues of hate, discrimination, and white supremacy in the military. My message here tonight, along with my colleagues, is not only will the Congressional Black Caucus continue to call for Representative Crane to make a formal apology to this body, as well as to the servicemembers that were disrespected, but we also want to state in no uncertain terms that his views on diversity in the military are misguided. Representative Crane, Representative Gaetz, and Senator Tuberville, we are not going back. We are not going back to the days of the 1950s. We are not going back to when our communities were segregated. We are not going back to when the term colored people was normalized. We are not going back here on the House floor, and we are not going back in America, and we will not be silenced. Our military is stronger when it reflects the entire American experience. Now, it is unfortunate, and, in fact, it pains me that this must be said in 2023, but diversity is our Nation's strength, not its burden. Instead of using it as a culture war issue, a wedge issue, I hope that the Speaker of this body will condemn the remarks of Representative Crane and anyone else who would try to bring that type of divisive language to this body. I commend my colleagues for being here tonight. I know that this is an issue that strikes to the core of who we are and who we represent. We understand that when we lift up the Black community, we lift up everybody. The Congressional Black Caucus may stand for the 80 million people across the country, but we stand for all Americans, and, yes, we stand for our servicemembers in the military. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States of America.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Chair, I rise today in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong opposition to this amendment. My Republican colleagues continue to argue against this so- called woke-ism in the military. I ask my colleagues: Can they define what being woke is? According to the Florida Governor's own legal team, it is defined as ``the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them.'' Mr. Chair, I have news for my colleagues. We need to be woke. We have decades and centuries of injustices and inequities heaped upon women, the LGBTQ+ community, Black and Latino, Native American and Asian, and so many other populations in our Nation. Mr. Chair, while the Republicans and their friends across the country try to ban books and erase our history from school textbooks, we are fighting to defend the truth and our history. Yes, I am woke, and more of my colleagues need to be woke.

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark), the whip of the Democratic Party.

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Chair, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith), the ranking member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Chairman, my Republican colleagues insist that government should run more like a business, yet they are focused on creating divisions in the military instead of following the same practices as our best defense companies--companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon--who all have a chief diversity officer role or equivalent. We are in the middle of a recruitment crisis. Mr. Chairman, instead of championing programs that will make it more enticing for underrepresented Americans to join the service, they are instead trying to make it more difficult for our military recruitment efforts to be successful. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this ill-advised amendment. Let's put our servicemembers, our national security, and their needs ahead of this amendment that does nothing but divide our country, divide our military. Let's continue to have strength in our military, and that strength comes from the diversity of our servicemembers. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to this amendment. Mr. Chair, the previous speaker, the maker of this amendment, talked about being exhausting. This issue that he has brought before this body and the committee is exhausting. Just this week, the sponsor of this amendment called diversity, equity, and inclusion in the military a ``failed experiment.'' He has called it cancerous. Just this week, a Senator from Alabama stated that it was his opinion that white nationalists are not necessarily racist and refused to denounce white nationalists serving in the military; all of this with the backdrop of the same Senator holding up hundreds of military nominations, which is actively hurting our national security, something that this NDAA bill would address. To what end? The U.S. Marine Corps does not have a confirmed commandant, as we speak. Yet, just an hour ago, on this very floor, one of the Members on the other side of this body said that his amendment had nothing to do, whether colored people or Black people can serve. Mr. Chairman, these comments show exactly why we need diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Every day our military grows more diverse, more and more reflecting the diversity of our Nation. This amendment does nothing to address the recruitment shortfalls that our services are facing and, instead, it will only make it more difficult to recruit Americans of diverse backgrounds representing the true makeup of our Nation.

Mr. HORSFORD. What are you so afraid of? Why do you keep bringing these divisive issues to the body of this floor. You are out of order. You are exhausting.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, thank you, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus- McCormick and Congressman Jonathan Jackson, for co-chairing tonight's Special Order Hour. I rise today with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus to address the recent Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and UNC. The Supreme Court determined in a 6-3 vote that race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions processes violated Title Six of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court's decision to strike down decades of precedent set in the Bakke case in 1978, which gave students--regardless of their race or ethnicity--a better chance at equal admissions to our nation's top schools was a needless blow to America's promise of equal and fair opportunity. We have to be clear on what this decision means for the legacy of the Court and what this decision will mean for race-conscious admissions policies across our country. By delivering a decision on affirmative action so radical as to deny young people seeking an education equal opportunity in our education system, the Supreme Court has thrown into question its own legitimacy. By imposing these radical changes to college and university race- based admission policies, the Court has made clear that it does not stand on the side of dismantling barriers to give our young people the opportunity at a better life, which will only stand to benefit the wealthy and well-connected. Unfortunately, we have seen backlash to progress many times throughout our Nation's history. During Reconstruction, we had a mere 12 years of Black achievement in policy, politics, the arts and sciences, and education that were followed by 70 years of state- sanctioned Jim Crow. We didn't stop fighting for equality then and we won't stop now because too much is at stake to allow extremists to turn back the clock on progress or to use Affirmative Action as a cultural wedge issue. That is why the CBC is proud to work alongside our Tri-Caucus colleagues to make clear that we will not be divided because our Nation's diversity is our greatest strength. I want to thank my colleagues of the CBC, including Representative Bobby Scott, Ranking Member of the Education and the Workforce Committee for their work on this issue and for being united in making clear that decision does not take the responsibility off of colleges and universities to do all they can to expand access to educational opportunities for students coming from underrepresented communities. The CBC is calling for colleges and universities to not only work towards diversifying their campuses to more closely reflect America, but also to reevaluate their legacy admissions programs because while the Court went so far as to eliminate race-conscious admissions practices, it did nothing about other determining factors such as legacy status. In fact, a lawsuit has been filed against Harvard University, saying that the legacy admissions programs that give preferential treatment to the children of wealthy donors and alumni discriminates against students of color who have the academic merit to attend the school. As such applicants with donor relationships, athletic recruitments, employee relationships, and other special recommendations will continue to receive preferential treatment. Giving unequal opportunity to an education for legacy admissions starkly contrasts the message we need to send our young people and threatens any progress we have made in providing equal access and diverse learning environments for students across our country. And while no Nevada institutions of higher education implemented race consideration in admissions, Nevadans of color who want to attend schools out of state, like Harvard, MIT, Georgia Tech, or other schools, will suffer as a result of this decision. Let me be clear--our students have the merit, academic credentials, knowledge, and drive to succeed at these schools. But we cannot turn a blind eye to the history of our nation that has prioritized wealth and access. At the same time, families of color have battled generations of discrimination and racism that limited their access to quality education and wealth building. This decision specifically exempted military academies. Why? Race can be a factor when police stop someone on the streets. Why? But race cannot be a factor in deciding whether someone can pursue a higher education. Why not?

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, Go Knights Go. This is a great morning in Las Vegas as we celebrate the first-ever Stanley Cup in Nevada. Our champions, the Las Vegas Golden Knights have truly entered their golden age. Madam Speaker, our Knights played 82 games this season and won 51-- their best season in franchise history. In their 6 years, they have blazed into NHL history and energized their fans in Nevada and across the Nation. I would especially recognize Team Captain Mark Stone and Head Coach Bruce Cassidy, who celebrates 1 year on the job today. Of course, congratulations go to the MVP and winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, an original Golden Knight, Jonathan Marchessault. Madam Speaker, Nevadans are beaming with pride over our Stanley Cup champions today. I know that glow will be with us for the weeks and months and years to come. I look forward to getting back to the district and celebrating our NHL champions. Go Knights Go.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, Congressman Jackson from Illinois, and Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick for their leadership and for co-chairing tonight's Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus in commemoration of Caribbean Heritage Month. As we mark the 17th anniversary of Caribbean Heritage Month, I pay special thanks to Congresswoman Barbara Lee who led the effort in Congress to designate the month of June as Caribbean Heritage Month to make sure that we always honor the rich history and contributions of Caribbean Americans. As a point of personal pride, I am a son and a grandson of Caribbean immigrants. My mother and grandmother came to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago, and for me to now serve in this body to be able to represent the needs of my constituents and those of Caribbean heritage gives me great pride. It also reminds me of the great contributions, the curried chicken, the hot pepper sauce, the pelau, and so many other wonderful dishes that I have experienced growing up in my own household based on my Caribbean heritage, and the fact that Caribbean people contribute so much and have contributed so much to the foundation of this country and its success. This month, we are proud to recognize the millions of Caribbean Americans around our Nation who contribute every day to the fabric of our society in the arts, sciences, business, in sports, education, government, and those who serve in our military. Those who have made our country better with their gifts and their service like our very own Vice President Kamala Harris, others like W.E.B. Du Bois, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Grace Jones, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Marcus Garvey, Usain Bolt, Sidney Poitier, and Harry Belafonte to name just a few. The Congressional Black Caucus--the conscience of the Congress--has been home to many Caribbean-American trailblazers since our founding in 1971. One of these trailblazers is Shirley Chisholm, a Caribbean American and founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus who became the first Black woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for President of the United States from one of our two major political parties. Many of our Members of Congress today are of Caribbean descent, including Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, Delegate Stacey Plaskett, and our Special Order co-chair, Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. Now, more than 50 years after our founding, our Members have continued to shape consequential legislation from voting rights to civil rights, fair housing, and so much more, carrying on the tradition of Shirley Chisholm, who sought to make America live up to its promise that all are created equal, to challenge the idea of what was possible for Black Americans, and to ensure a future worthy of our struggle. This month and every month, the Congressional Black Caucus is proud to honor the unique and diverse cultures, languages, religions, art, literature, music, and cuisines from around the Caribbean diaspora because our Nation's diversity is our greatest strength. I am honored to join my colleagues tonight. I thank our co-chairs and, most importantly, our constituents who work so hard to contribute to this great Nation and to make it continue to live up to its promise.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, do you see what I see? No Republicans. They are not here to do their job, so America's jobs are at risk. Madam Speaker, 8.3 million American jobs can be lost because Republicans want to hold us hostage and force a default. Madam Speaker, 30,000 Nevadans who are struggling right now to keep their jobs, to pay their rent, to afford their mortgage, will see the effects if Republicans are successful in causing a default on America; 60,000 veterans in my district could lose their health benefits; 73,000 families and children in Nevada could lose SNAP food benefits; 253,000 kicked off health insurance on Medicaid; and 1,300 preschool and childcare slots, which are vital. Madam Speaker, I would have time if the Speaker of this House would call us back into session. I will continue to do my job to speak on behalf of my constituents who sent me here to work on their behalf. Madam Speaker, call this House back to session. Let's do our job.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for her tremendous leadership in serving as co-chair not just for tonight's Special Order hour on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, but every time that Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Representative Jonathan Jackson are able to lead in this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise with my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus to thank and recognize our Active-Duty servicemen and servicewomen and to honor Black veterans from around the Nation, those who have returned to civilian life and those who are serving here in Congress. I also thank all of their families who also serve alongside them in the freedoms that we hold dear. I rise today to honor them for their service, their patriotism, their courage, and, of course, their sacrifice in keeping our Nation safe and free. Unfortunately, the stories of Black veterans are too often untold. Even now, the very history of their service is under threat of being taken out of our schools. It is important that we never forget the unique history and contribution of our Nation's Black veterans, like the Tuskegee Airmen, and we cannot ignore inequities Black veterans have faced over generations, like being denied benefits in the GI Bill following World War II, something that our assistant Democratic leader, Mr. Clyburn, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus are working to address. Black veterans account for nearly a third of our Nation's unhoused veteran population, and Black veterans are nearly two times as likely to live in poverty. As a Congress, we must fulfill our responsibility to repay our veterans for their service, including to the Black servicemen and servicewomen who are still making contributions to our Nation today. Mr. Speaker, there are a few veterans from Nevada's Fourth Congressional District who represent the best that Nevada and our country have to offer whose stories I will share. One of those constituents was a servicemember named Kelley. Toward the end of her service in the Air Force, Kelley's health began to deteriorate. After consulting with doctors, she was diagnosed with untreated fibroids, which caused her immense pain and forced her to rely on pain medications. In the early years, there were no women's clinics and Kelley had only male doctors attending to her care. However, the VA's renewed focus on addressing the unique needs of women veterans means there is now a safe space where Kelley can feel comfortable alongside fellow women veterans who share similar experiences. Christina is another Black woman from my district who was in the Air Force. She served from 2002 until her medical retirement in 2008. Tragically, during her service, she fell victim to sexual assault, which caused her immense trauma and impacted her mental health. After leaving the military, she grasped her need for help and turned to the VA, where she engaged with programs such as cognitive behavior therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy. She was set on a path to recovery which affirmed her strength. Her story serves as a reminder that we must ensure that we provide the support and the resources our servicemembers need. I was recently honored to help document the story of the Montford Point marines through an interview with Henry Franklin Jackson and the family of Isaac McMickens. They were among the first Black Americans to enlist in the Marine Corps, and they trained at Montford Point. By preserving their stories for generations to come, we can ensure that we honor their sacrifices. We will never be able to fully repay our veterans, given the sacrifices that they have made for our country; but as a Congress, we can make sure that we do all that we can to ensure that they have what they need when they return home. Mr. Speaker, it is because of the challenges that our veterans face that I was so proud to support the PACT Act, which is one of the most significant expansions of benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans in more than 30 years. This historic piece of legislation is helping to deliver more timely benefits and services to more than 5 million veterans, including thousands from Nevada, who were impacted by toxic exposures while serving our country. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus for their commitment to supporting our Nation's veterans, for recognizing the role Black veterans play in American history, and for sharing stories of veterans in their districts. I thank our CBC colleagues who were able to join us for this important topic tonight and to our co-chairs for their extraordinary leadership and managing this Special Order hour.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member of the House Ways and Means Work and Welfare subcommittee for the time. Mr. Speaker, this bill, the surprise billing our workers act, is another extreme MAGA attempt that threatens to punish hardworking constituents whom, at no fault of their own, may have been overpaid unemployment insurance benefits. If deficiencies and errors on the part of the unemployment authorities in each State caused an overpayment, this bill would allow the government to go after those funds for up to 10 years. Imagine that. Constituents in my district in North Las Vegas, who have been working hard, paying their bills, and taking care of their families, suddenly get a surprise bill that says that they owe hundreds or even thousands of dollars. On top of that, you want to go after fraudulent people gaming the system. We have laws and resources in place to go after networks and individuals who purposely try to get money that they are not entitled to. Just look at the Member from the other side of the aisle who was indicted yesterday for unemployment fraud, among other things.

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, last Congress, I introduced the Unemployment Insurance Technology Modernization Act, which would prevent fraud and address the technical shortcomings of many State unemployment programs. I would ask my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with me and other colleagues to actually provide solutions. Stop targeting our constituents. Let's go after the corporate cartels that are involved in this fraud of our unemployment insurance, but let's protect the unemployment program, which is a bridge to people who need it. My constituents faced the second highest unemployment during the pandemic. I will fight for them every step of the way.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Infertility Awareness Week, founded in 1989, to salute the parents, doctors, researchers, and others for the extraordinary progress over the last four decades to destigmatize infertility and bring awareness to the many barriers people face when trying to start and build their families. Most Americans are not aware that approximately one in five Americans are impacted by the disease of infertility. The disease affects men and women of all races, religious backgrounds, and economic status; it knows no barriers and impacts millions of individuals. Through the revolutionary contributions of research scientists and considerable medical advancements, fertility treatments have vastly improved since the first successful IVF pregnancy and live birth occurred in 1978. Such advancements include early infertility detection through detailed and data-driven testing, advanced egg-freezing technology, and progressive procedures that allow young cancer patients to preserve their fertility before undergoing lifesaving chemotherapy treatments. Organizations like RESOLVE: the National Infertility Association, advocate for millions of individuals and couples in this country who need medical assistance to have a family. Other groups, such as the Military Family Building Coalition (MFBC), have focused on raising awareness for active-duty service members and their spouses facing unique challenges with family building. They are actively working to bring awareness to these unique challenges and advance laws and policies to help our servicemembers sacrificing for our country achieve their dream of building or expanding their families. There are also organizations, such as the Alliance for Fertility Preservation, that stand up to voice the importance of affordable fertility preservation options for individuals undergoing cancer treatment. In fact, without comprehensive and reliable fertility preservation and family-building healthcare coverage, the option of having children may not otherwise be available for millions of Americans without the financial assistance of organizations like RESOLVE, AFP, MFBC, and countless other worthwhile organizations. Since 1978, and because of extraordinary medical advancements and steadfast advocacy organizations, millions of Americans have received life-affirming treatments that have resulted in the delivery of babies. And while advancements have been a substantial step forward for family building, significant medical, financial, and health equity barriers still exist for others who require medical assistance to combat in fertility. During this National Infertility Awareness Week, I am calling on my colleagues in Congress to do more to remove many of the barriers currently existing for those experiencing infertility challenges in their pursuit of having a child. The ability to have children and the timing of building a family is a fundamental human right. Thus, we must work together to pass legislation to create a path for these American families. I also applaud my colleagues, including Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, Congresswoman Brownley, Congresswoman DeLauro, Congresswoman Strickland, and Congressman Rick Larsen, for introducing legislation to eliminate obstacles to building families. I salute the millions of infertility warriors throughout the country and the world who advocate on behalf of that most precious of gifts, that of family.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Neal, for the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for my constituents in Nevada, my Democratic colleagues here in the House, and as chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus to address the latest attempt by extremist MAGA Republicans to put politics over the American people and to put billionaires and corporations over working families and children. Just last week, Speaker McCarthy introduced the default on America act that would tank our economic recovery and sabotage job growth, underscoring Republicans' lack of interest in governing for anyone besides the wealthy and the powerful. Speaker McCarthy and his MAGA extremists are demanding that Congress cut programs like SNAP, nutrition programs for seniors and children, at the expense of the wealthy. Everyday costs on families like car payments, student loans, credit card bills, and mortgage payments would increase. In fact, their plan, default on America, would affect veterans, seniors, families, people, and jobs, including 7,000 in my State alone. I urge my colleagues to vote against this default on America and to put people over politics.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank our co-anchors and all the Members who spoke. I send one very clear message: The actions of the Tennessee Legislature led by the GOP were a direct assault on our democracy and on people's duly elected Representatives. It smacks of overt racism that they would expel two of the youngest Black men in their body for simply speaking on behalf of their constituents. This is still an ongoing threat that we should be concerned about because what happened in the Tennessee Legislature was a blow to our democracy, and if it can happen in Nashville, it can happen in communities all over our country. This should concern every American, including my Republican colleagues, because the hallmark of a vibrant and healthy democracy is the very thing that the Republicans in the Tennessee Legislature shut down: freedom of speech. The Congressional Black Caucus won't stand by and allow another Jim Crow era to take root while GOP legislatures abuse their power, as we saw in Tennessee. We stand with the ``Tennessee Three.'' We stand with the parents calling for gun violence to end in their communities. We stand for free speech. We stand for our democracy.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and career of Detective Herman Moody, who passed away on February 25, at the age of 98. Herman Moody was the first Black police officer in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He attended Las Vegas High School and, afterward, honorably served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, in 1946, he began his 31-year service to the Las Vegas community as part of the police department, when the town was still segregated and there was not even a police academy for him to learn. He was undeterred, however, and taught himself how to file reports that would stand up in court. He found books about Nevada law so he could make good arrests, and he shared that knowledge with his colleagues to raise the standards of the entire Las Vegas police force. While he battled discrimination and was passed over for promotions, he never let that deter him from his goal. He rose to the highest rank and served as the second highest senior officer in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. My condolences to his wife, Magnolia, to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and to the entire family. Detective Moody, may you rest in peace.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Representative Jonathan Jackson for organizing this Special Hour order and leading as coanchors this evening. As chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, I rise today to join my colleagues in this hour focused on the push for voting rights. Today, March 7, is the 58th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, which occurred in Selma, Alabama, at the Edmund Pettus Bridge. That day, people gathered to march to the capital of Alabama, but they only made it a few miles before State troopers beat the protesters and shed blood on the bridge and streets of Selma. Among the marchers was a 25-year-old young man named John Lewis. Years before he would come to join us here in the Halls of Congress, he was a civil rights leader and activist. Some today might call him woke by their standards, and he was, in fact, woke: woke to disenfranchisement of Black men and women in the South, and woke to the fact that in Dallas County, Alabama, where he marched and where the police beat him, Black folks made up more than half of the population but somehow only made up 2 percent of the registered voters. When the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was arrested in Selma a few months earlier, he wrote in The New York Times: ``This is Selma, Alabama. There are more Negroes in jail with me than there are on the voting rolls.'' In the nearby town of Marion, tensions hit a fever pitch when, on February 18, 1965, State troopers clubbed protesters and fatally shot 26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson, an African-American demonstrator trying to protect his mother, who was being struck by police. Civil rights leaders planned to take their cause directly to Alabama Governor George Wallace on a 54-mile march from Selma to the State capital of Montgomery. Although Wallace ordered state troopers ``to use whatever means are necessary to prevent a march,'' approximately 600 voting rights advocates set out from the Brown Chapel AME Church on Sunday, March 7. I was honored to join my colleague, Representative Terri Sewell, and other Members, at Brown Chapel AME Church just this Sunday. The demonstrators marched peacefully through downtown Selma. As they began to cross the bridge spanning the Alabama River, the marchers who gazed up could see the name of a Confederate general and grand dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan, Edmund Pettus, staring right back at them in big block letters emblazoned across that bridge. Soon after, the melee began and the police took out their batons and tear gas to attack the peaceful marchers. John Lewis later testified in court that he was knocked to the ground and was hit in the head with a nightstick by a state trooper. What was different from this march, and this fight, was the many television cameras that captured the brutal moments on film and aired them across the country. It was a turning point in the fight for civil rights and for voting rights, just months after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had been signed into law. I had the opportunity, as I said, to join some of my colleagues in Selma, in Birmingham, and in Montgomery this weekend which, I may add, is now represented by our colleague in the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Terri Sewell. I was pleased that President Biden was there with us recognizing the need for our renewed action on voting rights for all. The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would ensure every American can exercise their vote. As the conscience of the Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus has always held voting rights at the forefront of our efforts in Congress. Let me just say this: This is the first time in nearly 40 years that reauthorization of sections of the Voting Rights Act have not been passed in a bipartisan way, in nearly 40 years. There have been previous Congresses where this was never controversial; the idea of reauthorizing one of our most fundamental rights as American citizens, the right to vote. So my question to my colleagues on the other side is: Why won't you join with us, as your colleagues in previous Congresses have done, to reauthorize the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act? We are calling on you today to join with us to protect and restore the sacred right to vote. We understand that this legislation must be passed. This is not a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent issue. This is not a Black, Brown or White issue. This is a fundamental issue around voting rights. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the time for the Congressional Black Caucus today and, again, thank all of my colleagues who have joined us on the floor this evening, and to our great co-chairs, Representative Cherfilus-McCormick and Representative Jackson for leading this Special Order hour. Let's pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act this Congress.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to join my colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus on the floor tonight for what is the first Special Order hour of the 118th Congress. I first acknowledge our chairs for Special Orders this evening, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ivey) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Kamlager-Dove). This hour provides all of us as members an important opportunity to come to the floor to discuss issues vital to Black Americans. We will use that time to do just that tonight. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, during the State of the Union, it is my hope that President Biden will be able to put a personal touch on the story of Tyre Nichols. The brutal beating of Tyre Nichols resulted in his death, and it is a reminder that we have a long way to go in solving systemic police violence in America. We and his parents want America to know who Tyre was. Tyre was a son. He was a father. He loved skateboarding and sunsets. He enjoyed photography. He had a purpose and a passion and a lifelong opportunity ahead of him, but that was taken. Now, no one in our Nation should fear interacting with the police in any of our communities. Sadly, many Black and Brown people do every single day. I want to be absolutely clear: We all want to be safe, and we want our communities to be safe. We don't want to end policing. We want to stop bad policing. All of us should agree that bad policing has no place in any community in America. That is why we need to address the public health epidemic of public safety that disproportionately affects our communities. I want to commend our colleague, Senator Tim Scott, Republican from South Carolina, who issued this statement: ``We have been here too many times before, and we cannot continue down this path. This man was beaten by the power of the state,'' by men entrusted with protecting his safety. ``We must unite against this blatant disregard for human life, especially from those we trust with immense power and responsibility'' for our communities. Mr. Speaker, Democrats and some Republicans agree, this is an important issue that must be addressed. Something must change to prevent further unnecessary deaths. In the coming weeks, my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus and I are engaging with leaders in our community and right here in the U.S. Capitol. We are working with the President, the Vice President, the Senate, and our House colleagues on the issue of public safety, policing, and justice, which is what we need action on now. For every mom, dad, son, and daughter, it is imperative that we tackle this issue with legislative solutions, executive actions, and community-based results. That is how we put an end to the pattern of Black lives being taken at the hands of law enforcement, whether it is during a traffic stop, walking in a park, or sleeping in their home. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues who are here on the floor with us tonight, and I thank Representatives Ivey and Kamlager-Dove for leading on this effort of the Special Order tonight and for the work that we will continue to do in the days, weeks, and months to come.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, this Republican rules package is more like rules wreckage, and it has very little to do with governance. Adding insult to the American people, Speaker McCarthy and MAGA Republicans want to defund the IRS so that their millionaire and billionaire friends don't have to pay their fair share in taxes while hardworking people in Nevada's Fourth District pick up the tab. There is a persistent problem with the wealthiest Americans evading taxes or hiding their money in secret, offshore bank accounts in order to avoid paying their tax obligations. In fact, according to a new Syracuse University analysis, low-income wage earners were audited 5.5 times more than the people in every other tax bracket in 2022. Democrats put people over politics and provided the resources and funding that the IRS needs to go after the super-rich tax cheats. It is not fair that taxpayers with lower incomes are more likely to be audited than high-income taxpayers. Adding additional insult, their first bill adds more than $100 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years. What does that say about reducing our deficit? Mr. Speaker, I urge the body to vote down this hypocritical package.

Mr. HORSFORD

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Tonko, for yielding the time and for leading on this legislation on the floor today. I come here today to discuss my bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Great Basin National Heritage Area and Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area Extension Act, which was included as part of the National Heritage Area Act, which we are debating today. The overall bill would reauthorize all 55 National Heritage Areas for 15 years, providing the certainty that NHAs need to build long-term partnerships and leverage public and private dollars while increasing transparency and accountability for the program. The Great Basin National Heritage Area is a remote region spanning the border of Nevada and Utah with rich cultural roots, rugged landscape features, and is home to many historical sites. While the Great Basin National Heritage Area region is sparsely populated with only 21,000 people calling these two counties home, what the area lacks in people, it makes up for in historical sites, sweeping landscape formations, and cultural attractions, including some of the best stargazing people can see and outdoor recreation. Since the initial designation, Great Basin and Mormon Pioneer have received $6 million in Federal funds, which have produced projects and programs valued at over $50 million. National Heritage Areas are critical for our rural communities that are vast beautiful landscapes that protect our lands and bring tourists from around the world. This designation does not result in any change in land-use regulations or ownership. Reauthorization of the NHA distinction would also not affect water rights, grazing rights, or mineral rights.

Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, this would only allow for a continuation of National Heritage Areas, including Great Basin National Heritage Area, which just this past August celebrated its 100-year anniversary, which I was proud to attend. This legislation is critical to protect and promote National Heritage Areas across the country, so I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' in favor of this legislation. I am proud to stand up today for the National Heritage Area Act.